Cambodia to Host ASEAN Retreat
Cambodia will host the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, from Feb. 15 to 17 in Phnom Penh in a hybrid format. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will chair the event. Photo from MFAIC
- By Meng Seavmey
- February 11, 2022 8:28 PM
Ministers to tackle unity and external relations
PHNOM PENH--Cambodia will host the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, from Feb. 15 to 17 in Phnom Penh in a hybrid format. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will chair the event.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry said representatives from ASEAN member states, including Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam will attend the retreat personally. Brunei will join via video call.
Sounry said Thailand and the Philippines have yet to confirm whether they would participate remotely or attend.
It was not yet confirmed whether Myanmar would send a non-political representative.
The retreat aims to follow up a leaders’ decision from the 38th and the 39th ASEAN summits to exchange views on how to strengthen external relations with dialogue partners while maintaining and promoting “togetherness” which includes ASEAN centrality, solidarity and unity.
Regional and international issues of common interest will also be raised in the discussions, the ministry said.
Sokhonn will tell the meeting about key deliverables to be achieved during Cambodia’s chairmanship under the theme “ASEAN ACT: Addressing Challenges Together” in response to strategic challenges facing the region.
These include effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic and inclusive recovery process, geo-political rivalries, existing traditional and non-traditional issues, as well as strengthening ASEAN’s cohesiveness, centrality, and resilience.
