With Cambodia poised to assume its ASEAN chairmanship next year from Vietnam, the Daniel K Inouye Asian-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) and the Asian Vision Institute (AVI) held a dialogue to discuss how the Kingdom can best prepare for the role.
Chairmanship of the ASEAN bloc is held on a rotating basis with each nation leading it every decade. Cambodia has chaired it twice, first in 2002 and then later in 2012.
“We are looking for a prosperous, healthy, secure and unified ASEAN because that is in our interest,” said Melissa Brown, charge d’affairs for the US Mission to ASEAN.
“As Chair, Cambodia will shepherd issues that have broad geo-politicial issues for the region, such as promoting a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, protecting the rule of law in the maritime space, fostering youth and women, as well as peace and security and upholding human rights across the Asia-Pacific,” she added.
“Taking on a successful chairmanship means taking the most pressing challenges head-on and adapting to new challenges that may divert the agenda from priorities.”
Brown highlighted how the US will support the bloc in its ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. The five-year roadmap outlines strategies on how the region plans to overcome the fallout associated with the ongoing pandemic.
The framework includes enhancing health systems, strengthening human security, maximising the potential of intra-ASEAN markets and broader economic integration, accelerating inclusive digital information and advancing toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
“Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the economic downturn that resulted, total trade between the US and ASEAN increased by 5 percent to $308 billion [last year]. ASEAN exports to the United States increased by more than 10 percent. USAID [United States Agency for International Development] has helped build the ASEAN Single Window for custom clearance and USAID’s ASEAN Policy Implementation Program provides national-level assistance for members to plug into that single window,” said Brown. “In 2022, Cambodia will be looked to as a leader to objectively and productively mediate, manage and forge cooperation on the highest-profile issues,” she added.
Brown also reiterated US support for Timore-Leste’s bid to join the bloc – “to achieve member-state status under Cambodia’s chair year would certainly be a historic achievement”.
Sim Vireak, director-general for the ASEAN Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAAIC), noted that Cambodia’s chairmanship will focus on maximising benefits from various free trade agreements and the evolution to digital economies.
“It is important to identify key mega trends affecting the region. COVID-19 will be here to stay and countries around the world will continue to struggle on how to rebuild economies and businesses that are almost at the brink of collapse,” Vireak said.
Cambodia was forced to reschedule the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM13) because of the pandemic, MFAIC announced last week.
The ASEM is an intergovernmental dialogue designed to foster cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Source: Khmer Times
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<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
