July 21, 2022
PHNOM PENH – Russia has confirmed that foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will attend the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) related meetings, which Cambodia will host in Phnom Penh from July 31 to August 6.
“My ASEAN colleague has informed me that the Russian Embassy in Phnom Penh has confirmed that Russia’s Foreign Minister will attend the Related Meetings,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Spokesman Chum Sounry told The Post on July 19.
Preparations for the success of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings to be hosted in Phnom Penh from July 31 to August 6 by Cambodia, the current Chair of ASEAN, are proceeding smoothly.
Sounry had earlier told The Post that Cambodia had sent out invitations to all relevant foreign ministers and was awaiting their replies.
On July 18, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn met with Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Masahiro Mikami.
“Deputy PM Prak Sokhonn stressed in the discussion that as the chair of all related meetings and with the cooperation and comprehension from all attending countries, Cambodia will try to encourage the smooth passage of discussions,” said the ministry in a press release.
“Ambassador Mikami Masahiro re-assured the Deputy PM of Japan’s full support for the success of Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship”” the press release said.
The press release added that both sides discussed a tentative programme for an upcoming visit by Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, particularly a requested courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen, a bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers and the signing of an Exchange of Notes and documents related to a loan from Japan.
Royal Academy of Cambodia secretary-general Yang Peou said on July 19 that the AMM meeting and related meetings are of vital importance, both for the agenda of the meeting and for related meetings in the future, including the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Meeting, the ASEAN + 3 Meeting and the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
“This meeting is of vital importance because Cambodia is chair of ASEAN at a time when tensions in the world and the region are strained,” he said.
“For example, the South China Sea remains a heated issue, and Myanmar remains a regional issue. The main global issue is Ukraine. Cambodia needs to coordinate these issues to make the ASEAN summit go smoothly. We hope to meet and solve these regional and global issues together,” he added.
Yang Peou added that having joined ASEAN 1999, Cambodia had successfully led the ASEAN meetings in 2002, 2012 and 2022, including the Special ASEAN-US Submit in May.