AKP Phnom Penh, May 06, 2025 --

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Senate President of Cambodia and a senior ASEAN statesman, has called on the new generation of ASEAN leaders to foster stronger bonds, promote solidarity, and enhance regional harmony.

In his special lecture titled “Cambodia and ASEAN, ASEAN and the World”, commemorating the 26th anniversary of Cambodia’s accession to ASEAN, held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 5, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, urged the bloc’s new generation of leaders to prioritise unity and cooperation.

“Sometimes we have too much work, we are too concerned about the agenda of the superpowers, and we forget to think about our neighbours—we forget to care for our family members in the ASEAN region,” he emphasised. “I strongly encourage the new generation of ASEAN leaders to create more shared memories in order to strengthen solidarity, cooperation, and regional harmony.”

Samdech Techo Hun Sen further underscored that fostering closer relationships among ASEAN nations is essential for managing challenges, resisting foreign interference in internal affairs, and preserving peace in the region.

He added that the bloc’s ability to grow stronger depends heavily on coordination and the cultivation of mutual understanding among ASEAN leaders.

“ASEAN cannot become a ‘Pole of the World’ if its leaders lack closeness, mutual understanding, and a shared sense of community—as a family,” he stressed.

The former Prime Minister of Cambodia also encouraged ASEAN’s next generation of leaders to begin forging deeper connections now, in order to build a stronger, more cooperative future for the region.

By Heng Panha