Cambodian PM Warmly Welcome New Japanese Prime Minister at the ASEAN Summit

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this morning expressed his warm welcome to the new Japanese Prime Minister at the 24th ASEAN-Japan Summit.

“First of all, I wish to extend my warm welcome to H.E. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, to the 24th ASEAN-Japan Summit. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to express my deep appreciation for the outstanding progress of our strategic partnership over the past 48 years, and share my views on strengthening ASEAN-Japan cooperation and its future direction,” he said in his address to the summit.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen mentioned that Japan’s unwavering support of ASEAN countries’ efforts to fight against COVID-19 during this difficult time is a manifestation of the robustness and the resilience of the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership. In this regard, Cambodia would like to thank Japan for its contribution of US$50 million for the establishment of the “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases”.

In addition, the Cambodian Premier also encouraged Japan to continue supporting other key initiatives, such as the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies and the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, to build the region’s socio-economic resilience in the context of living with COVID-19. Within the bilateral framework, Cambodia remains grateful to Japan for providing Cambodia with COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment and ambulances, as well as the funding to support our socio-economic recovery and growth.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen said regional integration is an indispensable component to ensure the region’s sustainable and inclusive recovery. He thus urged Japan to continue to promote the linking and synchronising of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Expanded Partnership for Quality Infrastructure, and to support the implementation of other action plans, especially the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan IV (2021-2025), in order to reduce the development gap within the ASEAN region, which is in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the same time, Samdech Techo Prime Minister said Cambodia highly appreciates Japan’s effort to enhance nation-building and development processes in ASEAN countries to forge a path towards a common goal of achieving sustainable, inclusive, and equitable growth in this new era. As the Chair of ASEAN in the year 2022, Cambodia is committed to preserving and enhancing the close, long-lasting and robust relationship between ASEAN-Japan. In this regard, Cambodia supports the proposal to hold the Special ASEAN-Japan Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Partnership in 2023 in Japan.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press