Phnom Penh (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son attended the 55th ASEAN ForeignMinisters’ Meeting (AMM-55) which opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 3morning.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Cambodian Prime MinisterSamdech Techo Hun Sen recalled the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s 55-year history and its beyond-expectedachievements, making Southeast Asia a region of cooperation, development andtrust.

He underscored the regional and global uncertainties causedby multidimensional impacts of COVID-19, tensions among major countries and crisesin Myanmar and Ukraine. Non-traditional challenges, such as climate change,natural disasters, energy security and food security, have put ASEAN and theregion at large through such an ordeal, according to the PM.

More than ever, ASEAN needs to unite, promote itscentrality, and strive to build a cohesive, inclusive and cooperative communitywith the spirit of “Unity in Diversity,” Hun Sen urged.

With the motto “ASEAN: Addressing Challenges Together,” the bloc must show commitment to surmounting hardships together, particularlyboosting post-pandemic recovery, implementing the Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP) and finalising a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is effective and consistent with international laws, including the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said.

He called on ASEAN to strengthen coordination in respondingto climate change and environmental degradation, consider the establishment ofa ASEAN Green Deal, and bringing the RCEP into full play.

Shortly prior to the opening ceremony, Son and FMs of other ASEAN nations paid a courtesy call to PM Hun Sen.

He also had a meeting with Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia DeputyPrime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,during which the officials discussed how the two sides can coordinate tosuccessfully organise the event.

Talking on how to step up the long-standing friendship andpartnership between the two countries, they agreed to further reinforce theties by maintaining and increasing the exchange of high-level delegations and meetings, as well as comprehensivecooperation mechanisms. Vietnam and Cambodia are aiming to achieve more than 10billion USD in two-way trade this year.

The two countries plan to host a variety of activities during the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 to mark the 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and beef up partnership indefence-security, agriculture, education and training, tourism andpeople-to-people exchange./.