Cambodia has voiced its support for the enhancement of the ASEAN-China ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The support was reiterated by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn, at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with China held yesterday via videoconference, pointed out a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Cambodian top diplomat also underlined the need to ensure that cross-border trade and supply chains remain unimpeded to take full advantage from the upgrading of the ASEAN-China FTA (ACFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), it added.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn emphasised the importance of enhancing the implementation of the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Synergising the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the same source said.
According to the press release, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with China noted with satisfaction the achievements of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and applauded the fruitful outcomes of the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on June 7-8 2021 in Chongqing as part of the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China relations. The Meeting looked forward to the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit in October this year.
On the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, while ASEAN expressed appreciation to China for the extensive regional support, China further reiterated the commitment to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, including through the support of regional capacity in the production and distribution of vaccines and medical supplies as well as recovery efforts.
The Meeting looked forward to the convening of the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management in October 2021.
Both sides reaffirmed the commitment to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. On the South China Sea, ASEAN and China stressed on the importance of the implementation of the 2002 DOC, and welcomed the resumption of the COC textual negotiations towards its early conclusion.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press