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ASEM13 in November to be Held Virtually

Cambodia has officially announced to host the 13th ASEM Summit (ASEM13) on Nov. 25-26, 2021 virtually.

The announcement was made by H.E. Luy David, Secretary of State and ASEM SOM Leader for Cambodia, at the ASEM Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) held from July 7 to 9 via videoconference.

The decision has been made based on the recommendation of the National Committee for Combating COVID-19 that a physical summit is neither safe for ASEM Leaders to attend nor practical as the virus continues to rage on while travel restrictions are being re-imposed by many countries, he underlined.

According to a press release on the outcomes of the ASEM SOM released this morning by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Meeting was co-chaired by Cambodia, as the host of ASEM13 and the European Union and attended by all 51 ASEM SOM Leaders as well as the representatives from the EU, ASEAN Secretariat, and Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).

The Meeting substantively discussed the draft of the Phnom Penh Statement on the Post-COVID-19 Socio-Economic Recovery, which will be one of the two outcome documents to be adopted at the ASEM13. The Statement reflects the ultimate goal of all ASEM leaders to ensure an Inclusive, sustainable and resilient post-pandemic recovery. ASEM SOM Leaders agreed to meet again later this month to finalise the Statement.

The Meeting welcomed with appreciation Slovenia’s offer to organise another ASEM SOM, tentatively on Sept. 16-17, 2021, to discuss the ASEM13 Chair’s Statement.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press