PHNOM PENH: The US Ambassador to Cambodia, W. Patrick Murphy, has spoken in support of Cambodia's 2022 ASEAN Chairmanship, saying that Cambodia's success in leading ASEAN this year is a success for the region as a whole.

Speaking at the inauguration of AmCam2022 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of US-ASEAN relations on Thursday evening at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, Patrick Murphy stated that there are many issues that Cambodia will need to address as chair of ASEAN in 2022, and expressed support for the progress that has been made so far in addressing these challenges.

He said that "if Cambodia succeeds as chair of ASEAN, we will all be equally successful, because this success is tantamount to progress on recovering from the global pandemic, ensuring maritime security, climate change, the crisis in Myanmar and more."

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Minister for ASEAN Affairs in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Kao Kim Hourn, thanked the United States for valuing the ASEAN community and Cambodia’s role as chair, and said Cambodia regards the United States as an important partner and strategic partner of ASEAN.

Minister Kao Kim Hourn said that "As the chair of ASEAN in 2022, Cambodia would like to express its full commitment to work closely with all ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat and of course with all ASEAN dialogue partners, including the United States."

Addressing the meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi on 17 January 2022, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the work that ASEAN needs to do this year includes the revitalization of the ASEAN economy, preparing for the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the ASEAN-Pacific Initiative, working on Timor-Leste membership, and organizing a summit to push for economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. He further stressed that ASEAN cannot spend time thinking only about Myanmar.