Siem Reap (FN), Nov. 23 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said we need to act together to address our common traditional and non-traditional security challenges, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus and related meetings, held on Wednesday morning (Nov 23) in Sokha Siem Reap Hotel.

“I would like to stress that open, frank, and inclusive dialogue and communication is the way forward to de-escalate the tensions, prevent future conflicts, and build a 'harmonised security" based on mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual trust, and mutual interest. We need to act together to address our common traditional and non-traditional security challenges,” the premier underscored.

Our meeting is taking place against the backdrop of rising uncertainty, rapid changes, complexity and volatility of global security and economic environment. The rise of geopolitical rivalries and tensions, the continued fight against COVID19 pandemic, the food and energy crisis, the global economic downturn and war have formed a “perfect storm”. At the same time, impacts from the climate change is indeed more severe, both scale and frequency.

In fact, the world is obviously at a critical juncture as multiple complex crises are posing unprecedented threat to the very foundations of peace, stability, and progress of many countries around the world. Indeed, the decline of multilateralism harms us all.

“Within such context, the ADMM Plus plays increasingly critical role in promoting mutual understanding through candid exchange of views based on mutual respect, practical collaboration, and capacity building,” the premier continued.

Samdech said that promoting mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual trust, and mutual interest for peace and prosperity (M4P2) is fundamental.

As a small state, Cambodia firmly and consistently advocates open and inclusive multilateralism, strengthen ASEAN-led mechanisms or ASEAN-driven regional order, and adheres to international law, particularly the UN Charter. Samdech believe that other ASEAN Member States share the same view.
=FRESH NEWS