The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Phnom Penh has confirmed the participation of H.E. Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, in the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (55e AMM) and Related Meetings to be hosted by Cambodia From July 31 to Aug. 6, 2022.
The news was shared by H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, in an inclusive interview with the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) here this morning.
The participation of the Russian foreign minister is very importance because Russia is one of the dialogue partners of ASEAN, and more importantly, Cambodia is the Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations, he underlined.
The Cambodian top diplomat added that 39 foreign ministers – 27 from the member countries of the ASEAN Regional Forum, including the host Cambodia, and 12 as the Chair’s guests – are expected to attend the 55e AMM and Related Meetings in Phnom Penh.
According to H.E. Prak Sokhonn, this year, there will also be a meeting between ASEAN and the United Kingdom after the latter obtained the Dialogue Partner status in the 54e AMM in August 2021. In addition, six more countries – the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Greece, the Netherlands, and Denmark – will become signatories to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
For Ukraine’s request to be a partner of ASEAN, the Deputy Prime Minister explained that through discussion with the ASEAN secretary general on July 18, 2022, the request will be accepted next year as the application seems to be late for the assessment process.
The 55th AMM and related meetings will be held from July 31 to August 6, 2022 in Phnom Penh in physical format. AMM was established under the Bangkok Declaration in 1967. The AMM ministers meet at least four times a year and may convene special meetings when there are necessary to discuss issues that require ASEAN’s immediate attention. The AMM regularly reviews and discusses ASEAN community-building efforts, its strategic future directions, as well as the conduct of ASEAN’s external relations.
Cambodia joined ASEAN on April 30, 1999, and from that time, it has successfully hosted the AMM twice, in 2002 and 2012.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press