Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 19 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said that ASEAN and China must work together to further promote regional cooperation that is open, transparent, inclusive, complementary, and mutually beneficial, speaking at the Conferment Ceremony of the Distinguished World Leader Lifetime Achievement Award, held on Monday (Dec 19) at the Peace Palace.
Premier Hun Sen hopes and believes that the ASEAN-China cooperation that has been opening a new chapter through the implementation of the “ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and the establishment of the “ASEAN-China Free Trade Area version 3.0”, will contribute to further enhancing relations and cooperations between the two regions with greater potential and dynamism.
“ASEAN and China must work together to further promote regional cooperation that is open, transparent, inclusive, complementary, and mutually beneficial. For instance, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is one of the excellent role model for trading system that is open, inclusive, and rule-based, and reflects the genuine commitment to strengthening regional cooperation,” the premier underlined.
Samdech continued, “In this spirit, we must continue and intensify efforts to foster other regional initiatives and cooperation aimed at taking maximum advantage from those potential for the development of both regions. I also would like to take this opportunity to commend China’s relentless support for maintaining ASEAN Centrality and Unity in the evolving regional architecture and promoting mutual synergy and reinforcement among the mechanisms led by ASEAN.”
“At the same time, ASEAN and China must pay crucial attention to deepening cooperation in all areas, particularly such that accelerate socio-economic integration, remove trade barriers, enhance the resiliency of regional supply and production chains, embrace new opportunities arising from digital economy, green growth, energy transition, and increase the capabilities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which is regarded as a pillar of economic growth in the new normal, and especially the adherence to multilateralism approach for resolving all issues,” the premier added.
Meanwhile, premier Hun Sen also emphasized that we will continue to make greater efforts to develop Cambodia and maintain the achievements that Cambodia has made over more than the past forty years. Meanwhile, ASEAN and China will continue to constantly build on its achievements as well as enhance various cooperations to promote peace, stability, and development in the entire region and world.
Samdech hopes that the next generations will continue to hold such unity spirit to maintain peace and promote national and regional development and continue making more development on top of the present achievements.
=FRESH NEWS
