Phnom Penh, 23 September 2022 (TDI): Cambodia chaired the Annual Informal ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Meeting (IAMM) which took place on Thursday on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The meeting took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn chaired the meeting.

The annual meeting was held to discuss the cooperation and coordination between the ASEAN members. Moreover, preparations for the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit and related sessions were also reviewed during the meeting. The Summit is scheduled to take place from 10th-13th November 2022 in Phnom Penh.

The participating countries ensured their increased cooperation and coordination with Cambodia, which holds the chairmanship of ASEAN this year, to ensure the success of the Summit. Furthermore, the country’s proposal to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) was also welcomed during the meeting.

While discussing the Treaty values and guiding principles of the Treaty among regional countries and external partners were also affirmed.

In addition, Cambodia also sought the support of fellow ASEAN member states for Cambodia’s membership in the Organizational Committee of Peacebuilding Commission (OCPBC) for the term 2025-2026 and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the term 2028-2030.

Also read: Cambodia to hold talks with Vietnam, Laos

Discussion of the meeting

During the meeting, participants discussed the Myanmar issue and the practical measures the bloc can take to build a favourable dialogue in the country. Moreover, countries stressed the need to continue effectively implementing the ASEAN leaders’ Five-Point Consensus, particularly promoting the work by the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar.

Furthermore, the countries agreed to increase humanitarian support for Myanmar while affirming support to the ASEAN Chair Cambodia and the Special Envoy.

In addition, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Ha Kim Ngoc thanked the other ASEAN member states for their support to Vietnam in successfully running for several important positions at the UN agencies. Minister Ngoc agreed on the bloc’s position of mutual support and coordination.

The Vietnamese Minister further added that TAC’s principles and values should be promoted, especially amid profound and complex changes in the region and the world. On the Myanmar issue, Minister Ngoc said that ASEAN should be more active in helping the country overcome the crisis.

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