Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 11 – Cambodian Delegate Minister Jean François Tan reaffirmed Cambodia’s stance on several key issues addressed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during the ASEAN Summit. These issues included the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea dispute, the Middle East conflict, and the One-China Policy.

The delegate minister spoke on Friday (Oct. 11) at a press conference regarding the outcomes of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet’s participation in the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits held in Vientiane, Laos.

"The South China Sea dispute is not new, nor is the instability on the Korean Peninsula, which has been ongoing for far longer than the past decade, or the recent conflict in the Middle East. None of these issues are easy to resolve. However, the East Asia Summit and ASEAN related summits, which bring together major powers and the 10 ASEAN countries, provide important forums for discussion. These gatherings, including the ASEAN Plus One Summit, ASEAN Plus Three Summit, and the ASEAN-Middle East Summit, are becoming venues where global and regional leaders, heads of states, and key figures come together to deliberate on these issues and explore possible solutions," the delegate minister underscored.

Minister Jean François Tan reiterated that Cambodia’s position on the South China Sea dispute remains unchanged. Cambodia envisions the South China Sea as a region of peace, stability, and prosperity. Cambodia continues to fully support the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and hopes for the early realization of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Nonetheless, progress has been slow, and the issue remains difficult to resolve, with annual discussions being held to seek a solution rather than doing nothing at all.

On the matter of the Korean Peninsula, Cambodia has maintained its stance. Prime Minister Hun Manet affirmed that Cambodia advocates for peaceful dialogue among the concerned parties, aiming for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, particularly the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Regarding the Middle East conflict, Samdech Thipadei reiterated Cambodia’s belief that “without a two-state solution (Palestine and Israel), there can be no lasting peace.”

On the One-China Policy, the delegate minister reaffirmed that Cambodia has never wavered in its position, recognizing the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole representative of all of China.
=FRESH NEWS