Cambodian PM Attends 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits Hosted by Brunei Darussalam


Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, attended the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits hosted by Brunei Darussalam on Oct. 26 via videoconference under the theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.

The summits were chaired by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei with the participation of all the ASEAN Heads of State/Government, except the Myanmar leader.

In the 38th ASEAN Summit, the leaders discussed two key agendas, including the ASEAN Community Building and response to COVID-19 pandemic, while the 39th ASEAN Summit touched on external relations and ASEAN centrality, and exchange of views on regional and international issues.

At the summits, Samdech Techo Hun Sen emphasised that the prolongation of COVID-19 in past nearly two years became a major test of leadership and development for both ASEAN as a whole and for each member country.

So far, he continued, we can assess that ASEAN will be able to effectively control the spread of the disease in the near future, therefore the main and next important work is the socio-economic rehabilitation and development through ensuring the normalisation of trade flows, travel and liberalisation of trade, services and investment.

“In this sense, Cambodia would like to support the development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision, and welcome the adoption of the terms of reference for the High-Level Task Force in charge of that work,” he underlined.

Regarding the COVID-19 situation in Cambodia, Samdech Techo Prime Minister stated that in the fight against this deadly disease, the Royal Government of Cambodia has identified vaccination as a strategic key measure, combined with other measures.

As of Oct. 22, 2021, he pointed out, Cambodia has vaccinated 13.7 million people, equivalent to 85.33 percent of the total population of 16 million.

According to the assessment, the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia is well under control, said the Premier, adding that on this basis, the Royal Government has been gradually promoting the resumption of socio-economic activities in the New Normal, and planned to launch the Strategy for Recovery and Promoting Economic Growth through Learning to Live with COVID-19 in the New Normal at the end of 2021.

Besides the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits, Samdech Techo Prime Minister will virtually attend the 22nd ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit; 24th ASEAN-China Summit; 9th ASEAN-U.S. Summit; 24th ASEAN-Japan Summit; 1st ASEAN-Australia Summit; 24th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit; 16th East Asia Summit; 18th ASEAN-India Summit; and 4th ASEAN-Russia Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations between Oct. 26 to 28, 2021.

Samdech Techo Prime Minister will also make an address at the Closing Ceremony on Oct. 28, where Brunei will handover ASEAN Chairmanship for 2022 to the Kingdom of Cambodia.