The 20th ASEAN Summit Kicks Off

AKP Phnom Penh, April 3, 2012 –

The official opening ceremony of the 20th ASEAN Summit and the Celebration of the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN was held here this morning under the chairmanship of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The ASEAN Heads of Government/State, the ASEAN Ministers, the ASEAN Secretary-General, the ASEAN SOM, SEOM and SOCA Leaders, the ASEAN Deputy Secretaries-General, the ASEAN Directors-General and the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN participated in the event.

Speaking at this auspicious occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said it has been more than 10 years Cambodian became a full member of ASEAN, we are proud that during this period Cambodia was able to considerable progress.
“ASEAN membership has allowed Cambodia to strengthen integration with the region and international community. At the same time Cambodia has been strictly fulfilling her role in ASEAN to build a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious regional community, as well as transform ASEAN into a model of regional cooperation with global importance,” stressed the Cambodian premier.

As the Chair of ASEAN, this year Cambodia will make utmost effort within its capacity to closely cooperate with other member countries for achieving various priorities of ASEAN toward the building of “ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny,” he said.

“I strongly believe that the ‘Phnom Penh Agenda’ (which spells out our priorities for 2012) will help bring ASEAN even closer toward achieving this goal. I sincerely hope that all esteemed Leaders of ASEAN will extend cooperation for ensuring the success of the implementation of the proposed agenda,” he said.

ASEAN has undergone a major transformation since its founding, from a region wracked by conflict, misery, and poverty to a region of peace, stability and development, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, adding that after more than four decades of development, ASEAN today has become a closely-integrated political and economic entity, and influential player in Asia and an indispensable strategic partner of major countries and organizations in the world.

Cambodia is certainly proud of having made positive contribution to ASEAN according to its capacity and ability in bringing about such progress, he said.

Nevertheless, along with the success and achievement made so far, ASEAN is facing some challenges that need to be addressed in order to realize the objective of “ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny”, he said.

Indeed, uncertain global financial and economic situations, especially the fragility of economic recovery of developed countries, coupled with server debt crisis in Europe still pose a great threat to the sustainability of socio-economic development of ASEAN achieved over the last 4 decades and the success of our effort towards realizing a full ASEAN community, said the Cambodian prime minister.

The ongoing social and political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa remain a threat to global security and is exerting an upward pressure on the already high oil prices, while food security, energy, climate change, natural disasters, terrorism, transnational crime and maritime safety remain the world’s challenges, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

The ASEAN member countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia. Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.