PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, delivered the ‘23rd ASEAN Lecture: ASEAN Chairmanship 2022’ via videoconference on Monday, at the invitation of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the lecture, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn elaborated on four clusters of strategic challenges that gave rise to Cambodia’s choice to steer ASEAN 2022 under the theme of ‘ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together’: recovery from Covid-19 impact, geopolitical rivalries, existing traditional and non-traditional security issues, and ASEAN internal and institutional constraints.

He further emphasized the importance of ASEAN’s spirit as a united family of 10 in overcoming common challenges and a highlighted the importance of having a strong sense of ‘togetherness’ in order to effectively uphold peace, stability and further promote sustainable development within and beyond the region.

In addition, the Foreign Minister went over Cambodia’s key priorities, deliverables and prospects across the three ASEAN Communities, Political-Security, Economic and Sociocultural Communities, in responding to the challenges facing the region.

Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn also engaged in a question and answer session from those attending the lecture on regional and international issues pertaining to the interest and concern of ASEAN during Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022.