- ASEAN Summit Plenary Session | ASEAN Summit Retreat Session | ASEAN Business Advisory Council | 2012 ASEAN Chairmanship |
- ASEAN + 3 Summit | 14th ASEAN-China | 14th ASEAN-Japan | 14th ASEAN- Republic of Korea |
- ASEAN-US Summit | ASEAN-UN Summit | ASEAN – India Summit |
Address at the 19th ASEAN Summit (Plenary Session)
Bali, 17 November 2011
(09:50-11:50)
Excellency Chair of the Meeting,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
On behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, I would like to congratulate H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
on his assumption of the Chairmanship of this important ASEAN Summit
and to express our deep gratitude to the Government and People of
Indonesia for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me and my
delegation. I would like also to take this opportunity to express our
sincere gratitude to ASEAN member countries for their generosity in
providing emergency relief assistance to the Cambodian people during
the recent flooding. May I now share with you all some of my views
related to our agenda as follows:
- ASEAN Community Building and the Implementation of the ASEAN Charter
I highly appreciate the progress report on the annual
targets for 2011, which is useful for assessing the activities that
respond to ASEAN’s priorities. I would like to comment on some
important issues as follows:
ASEAN Political-Security Community
I am pleased that significant progress has been made in pursuing the building of the ASEAN Political-Security Community.
Cambodia highly appreciates the guideline for the implementation of
the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in South China Sea. Moreover,
we should forge a closer cooperation between the ARF and ADMM Plus
(ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus) as the two mechanisms provide
the synergy to reinforce regional confidence building.
ASEAN Economic Community
I am also pleased to note that the process of building
the ASEAN Economic Community. Nevertheless, I am of the view that we
should jointly continue to address the main obstacles on the road
toward to the establishment of the ASEAN single market and production
base, namely the reduction of non-tariff barriers and trade
facilitation, especially the implementation of ASEAN Single Window. In
this regard, I would like to urge ASEAN Economic Ministers to pay
attention to the implementation of structural reforms and internal
regulations to be consistent with ASEAN Agreements, and pay special
attention on dispute settlement mechanism in the economic sector.
Cambodia wishes to thank the older ASEAN member
countries and ASEAN development partners for their valuable
contribution to the implementation of the 2nd action plan of the
Initiative for ASEAN Integration (2009-2015) in order to reduce
development gaps in the ASEAN region. I highly appreciate the ASEAN Framework Paper for Equitable Economic Development and also welcome the Blueprint on ASEAN Framework for Comprehensive Economic Partnership at Regional Level.
In the spirit of strengthening ASEAN centrality, I would like to
support the proposal made by the ASEAN Economic Council to establish 3
working groups to work internally within ASEAN framework in order to
formulate in advance the criteria acceptable by ASEAN before inviting
our partners to negotiate the establishment of the ASEAN Plus Plus FTA.
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
I highly appreciate ASEAN Leaders' Statement on Climate
Change for the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-17 UNFCCC)
and the 7th Session of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting
of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP7 Kyoto Protocol).
I would like to express my full support for the ASEAN Declaration of Commitment: Getting To Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination, Zero AIDS-Related Deaths, the
Bali Declaration on the Enhancement of the Role and Participation of
Persons with Disability and the Declaration on ASEAN Unity in Cultural
Diversity Towards Strengthening the ASEAN Community. Moreover, I would like to propose that we should push for the establishment of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Fund
in order to carry out social-cultural activities aimed at promoting
people-to-people connectivity in ASEAN Countries, as well as other
activities under the framework of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Council.
ASEAN Connectivity
Cambodia has given two priorities to the ASEAN connectivity. The first priority is the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link.
As this connectivity is of critical importance to ASEAN, I think that
our meeting should reiterate ASEAN’s commitment to realizing this
project as planned. The second priority is the highway construction
linking India, Myanmar, Laos, Viet Nam and Cambodia. In order to
accelerate implementation this project, we should convene the
ASEAN-India Transport Ministers’ Meeting as soon as possible. Moreover,
we should also engage all ASEAN Partners including ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3
countries and the ADB and to secure their support for the
implementation of all projects under the Master Plan on ASEAN
Connectivity by all means available, including ensuring maritime
connectivity.
Implementation of the ASEAN Charter
ASEAN Charter is critical for the ASEAN Community in
2015. In this regard, I appreciate very much the development of legal
and regulatory framework and would like to encourage the completion of
the remaining legal instruments, such as the Rules for Reference of Non-Compliance to the ASEAN Summit.
Moreover, ASEAN needs to translate the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter
on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms into practical dispute settlement
mechanisms in order to make ASEAN a rule-based organization.
2- ASEAN and the Wider Region
ASEAN +1 and ASEAN+3
I am pleased to note that the relations between ASEAN
and its partners have strongly developed through the strengthening of
regular dialogue at all levels. Each of the plus countries has become
ASEAN’s strategic partners. The relationship between ASEAN and
Australia, New Zealand, Russian Federation and the US has elevated to
the Summit or Leader level. With this, I think we should continue to
strengthen our cooperation and coordination in order to ensure ASEAN Centrality in an evolving regional architecture, especially the East Asia Summit (EAS)
East Asia Summit (EAS)
I am very pleased that ASEAN Connectivity
has been added as a top priority area to the existing five priority
areas of cooperation. We should make further efforts to seek financial
contribution as well as technical assistance from the EAS members for
the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and the
ASEAN Infrastructure Strategic Plan 2011-2015, which lays the
foundation for narrowing development gaps within ASEAN and constitute a
stepping stone towards East Asian integration over the longer term.
East Asia’s economic architecture should progress
gradually and in phases, starting from trade in goods, services and
investment, and enhancement of ASEAN Plus One and Plus Three
cooperation reflecting ASEAN centrality.
Thank you for your attention!
Address at the 19th ASEAN Summit (Retreat)
Bali, 17 Nov 2011
(13:20-15:20)
Excellency Chair of the Meeting,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
May I now share with you all some of my views related to our agenda as follows:
1- ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations
I highly appreciate «the Bali Declaration on ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations»
which lays out concrete action plans to undertake in the areas of
political-security, economic, socio-cultural cooperation. At the same
time, I believe that disaster management is one of the most important
priorities for ASEAN given the worst ever flooding that hit Cambodia
and Thailand, as well as other natural disasters that devastated the
region this year. We should especially strengthen our regional response
capacity to cope with disasters, including flood and other
environmental crisis. In this regard, I appreciate the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management-AHA Center
at this Summit, and urge for an early operation of this center in
order address natural disasters in the region. Moreover, we should pay
more attention to development by taking into consideration the
interests of all riparian countries of the river, both the upstream and
downstream countries, as well as the interests of all coastal
countries.
Moreover, I think ASEAN should devise a concrete
strategy to better coordinate positions among members in order to deal
with important global issues such as climate change, deforestation,
global financial crisis, the promotion of global free trade, fighting
transnational crimes and terrorism, so on and so forth. This requires us
to strengthen the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat to discharge the
responsibility of coordinating positions of ASEAN Member States, to
represent and defend common ASEAN’s positions and strategy on the
international arena.
2- Exchange of Views on International and Regional Issues
[Regarding the proposal on ASEAN
Single Visa, Cambodia is of the view that although this is a good
initiative, we should not rush for this since we do not have yet visa
exemption between all ASEAN members. So, as a priority for us, we
should work to waive visa between all ASEAN countries first, before
considering an ASEAN Single Visa. Moreover, an arrangement for a Single
Visa requires a detailed study on impact that may have on some members
including security matter as well as government revenue. ]
[Once again, I would like to reiterate that Cambodia has no objection to the accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN.]
[Cambodia welcomes the first meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
and agrees to the proposal to hold ASEAN-China SOM and ASEAN-China WG
on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea-DOC).]
[I also welcome Malaysia’s initiative
to establish a Global Movement of the Centrist Parties aimed at
addressing and preventing extremist groups. This will allow ASEAN to
make contribution to the strengthening of regional and world peace.]
[We all follow up with great attention
the reform process of democratization of the Middle East and the North
African regions. Cambodia is the view that the International Community
should support a peaceful transformation of the political system of
those countries]
Thank you for your attention!
Remarks at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting with ASEAN Business Advisory Council
Bali, Indonesia, 17thNovember 2011
(16:20 – 17:00)
It is my great honor to be here once again with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) to review progress, constraints and challenges that the business and trade community is facing today and in the future, and to exchange views on how to further promote ASEAN as an attractive investment destination and regional and global economic cooperation.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to
thank ABAC for their hard work and to take note on the good
recommendations provided by ABAC to the ASEAN Governments aiming at
improving ASEAN business and investment environment in order to
strengthen ASEAN competitiveness and promote intra-ASEAN trade.
Indeed, today’s meeting is organized at
an important junction of the global development. Event though the
financial crisis has passed, uncertainty still remains. For instance,
Europe’s debt crisis and US slow economic growth remain great concerns
for all of us.
Nevertheless, the ASEAN Governments
have seized the opportunity of the rapid recovery of the Asian
economies by playing a more proactive role and strengthening cooperation
of mutual benefits with major regional and global players in a wide
range of sectors. We would like to encourage the private sector to
seize this opportunity by investing more in ASEAN countries, which in
turn, will contribute to the promotion of domestic sources of growth,
the diversification of regional cooperation and acceleration of regional
integration in order to sustain growth in a post-crisis environment.
At the same time, ASEAN Governments have worked hard to realize the ASEAN Community by 2015 by adopting the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Community Blueprints and Roadmaps.
In this sense, I would like to encourage the private sector to
participate more actively in the realization of the ASEAN Economic
Community.
At the present, we have promoted the
implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and ASEAN
countries need strong support from the private sector to ensure the
connection of both soft and hard infrastructures, in particular land,
railway, air, waterway and maritime connectivity.
The Royal Government of Cambodia has
made tremendous efforts to further promote private sector development
in banking and financial sectors, tourism, construction and service,
labour-intensive and export-oriented industries, oil and gas, natural
resources and mining as our priorities with the view to ensuring
sustainable growth. In order to further diversify our economy, we have
given special attention to the development of agriculture and
agro-industry by increasing paddy production and rice export, in which
Cambodia has considerable endowment. In this regard, I would like to
encourage the private sector to seize the opportunity and potential
presented in Cambodia, notably the opening door policy and the
environment, which are favourable to all business people and investors.
Thank you!
Address at the Handover of ASEAN Chairmanship for 2012
Bali, 19 November 2011
(16:20-17:00)
Excellency Chair of the Meeting,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Cambodia is very honored and pleased to take over ASEAN
Chairmanship and to host the 20th and 21st ASEAN Summits in 2012. On
this auspicious occasion, I would like to congratulate and commend
Indonesia for the success of ASEAN Chairmanship in 2011. On behalf of
ASEAN member countries, we, all, acknowledge Indonesia’s role and her
contribution to the promotion of ASEAN’s prestige and role in the
global community of nations. The leadership of H.E. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has
brought about real progress in implementing the ASEAN Charter and the
three pillars of the Roadmap for ASEAN Community, especially the “ASEAN Connectivity”
which constitutes the most indispensable master plan for the
realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015 as scheduled. Moreover,
Cambodia has noticed that under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ASEAN centrality in regional architecture has been further strengthened.
Taking this opportunity, as ASEAN’s future Chairman in
2012, I would like to highlight a number of Cambodia's priorities as
follows:
First, Continue to intensify efforts aimed at building a rule-based, people-oriented and fully integrated ASEAN Community;
Second, Work to ensure concrete achievement of the milestones as prescribed in the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015;
Third, Ensure progress in the implementation of the IAI Work Plan II (2009-2015);
Fourth, Continue to promote
the implementation of the milestones set in the Blueprints for the
establishment of the three Communities;
Fifth, Promote collective efforts in the spirit of unity and solidarity in order to realize the ASEAN Community by 2015;
Sixth, Further enhance cooperation and strengthen partnership with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and other regional groupings.
Given all of these priorities, I would like to call upon
all ASEAN Member-States and Dialogue Partners to extend their close
cooperation and to provide support for Cambodia during her ASEAN
Chairmanship in order to secure further success for ASEAN in the
forthcoming 2012. At the same time, I would like to reaffirm Cambodia's
strong commitment to assuming ASEAN Chairmanship in order to continue
working towards the realization of the ASEAN Community by focusing on
the theme of «ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny».
Finally, I would like to
extend in advance my warmest welcome to Excellencies ASEAN Leaders and
to all delegations to participate in the 20th ASEAN Summit in Cambodia
which is scheduled to be held on 3-4 April 2012 in Phnom Penh, the
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Thank you for your attention!
Remarks at the 14th ASEAN-China Summit/20-Year Commemorative Summit
Bali, 18 th November 2011
(08:30 – 09:30)
Your Excellency Chairman,
Your Excellency Premier of the People’s Republic of China,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
First of all, I would like to join other ASEAN Leaders in welcoming H.E. Wen Jiabao,
Premier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to this Commemorative
Summit to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN-China Relations.
Taking this opportunity, let me convey a deep gratitude from Cambodian
flood victims for the relief assistance provided timely by China.
I am very pleased to note that over the recent years the
ASEAN-China relations in all areas have been in remarkable progress,
and reached a strategic level of partnership. I am of the view that the
adoption of the guideline for the implementation of Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) is another achievement
for strengthening regional confidence, peace and security. Moreover,
the Plan of Action to implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China
Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2011-2015) is indeed
not just a synergy for ASEAN in its effort to realize the ASEAN
Economic Community in 2015, but also a key element for the establishment
of an East Asia Community over the longer term.
Over the past decade, the 2002 Framework Agreement on
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between ASEAN-China has laid a firm
foundation for the realization of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area
(ACFTA) in 2010. In the current context that China has moved up the
ladder as ASEAN’s third largest trading partner, I am convinced that
the signed ASEAN-China Investment Agreement, the official launch of
ASEAN-China Centre, and the establishment of ASEAN-China FTA Business
Portal will not only reinforce our efforts aimed at achieving the
two-way trade volume of USD 500 billion and to increasing direct
investment from China to USD 10 billion in 2015, but will also increase
the two-way flow of tourist arrivals to 15 million by 2015.
To further deepen regional cooperation and address the
challenges in the years to come, I believe that China and ASEAN should
pay attention to the following issues:
Firstly, we must finalize all necessary
technical aspects under the ASEAN-China Framework Agreement on
Comprehensive Economic Partnership in order to ensure the smooth
implementation of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, and promote the
preferential regime of the FTA in order to attract more investment from
China into ASEAN and expand trade between China and each ASEAN member
in accordance with their comparative advantages. Moreover, further
relaxing non-tariff barriers such as sanitary and phyto-sanitary
standards (SPS) requirement would increase access of agricultural
products originated from ASEAN to the Chinese market, especially goods
originated from the less developed members.
Secondly, we must strengthen
cooperation in connectivity in order to narrow the development gap in
the region. We should ensure the completion of the Singapore-Kunming
Rail Link (SKRL) as it is the integral part of the ASEAN Master Plan on
Connectivity. Cambodia thanks China for her generous support for
conducting the feasibility study of a missing link of the SKRL from
Phnom Penh to Vietnam’s border. Cambodia gives high priority to this
missing link. Therefore, the continued support from China for the
construction of the remaining missing link of 257 km would well serve
the numerous interests of peoples of ASEAN and China.
Thirdly, we must improve cooperation in
the agricultural sector including promoting investment in modern
technology to breed high quality seeds, to increase agricultural
productivity, and to improve harvest and processing of agro-products in
order to increase farmers’ incomes and reduce poverty in the rural
areas and to contribute to the efforts aimed at ensuring domestic and
regional food security. In this regard, I welcomethe
ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Action Plan (2011-2013) and the
ASEAN-China Agreement on Science and Technology. As China is becoming a
leader in green technologies, I hope that China would help the less
developed members of ASEAN with the transfer of green technologies to
improve agricultural production.
Thank you for your attention!
Remarks at the 14th ASEAN-Japan Summit
Bali, 18th November, 2011
(10:00-11:00)
Your Excellency Chairman,
Your Excellency Prime Minister of Japan
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I would like to join the ASEAN Leaders in extending the
warmest welcome to the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E.Yoshihiko Noda, to
this 14th ASEAN-Japan Summit. Taking this opportunity, I highly
appreciate the humanitarian assistance provided by Japan to support
the Cambodian people during the recent flooding.
I am very pleased to note that over the recent years
ASEAN-Japan relations in all areas have been in remarkable progress and
reached a strategic level of partnership. Today, the adoption of the
Joint Declaration for Enhancing ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership is
truly crucial in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the
region. Moreover, the Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-Japan
Strategic Partnership (2011-2015) will play a critical role of not only
helping ASEAN to achieve the ASEAN Community in 2015, but also
contributing to the joint efforts to establish the East Asian Community
in the longer term.
In this regard, I would like to encourage Japan as a
friend to continue providing financial contribution and technical
assistance to support a full implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN
Connectivity, which lays the foundation for narrowing development gaps
and realize the regional community.
Taking this opportunity, I highly appreciate Japan’s
support for and valuable contribution made so far to the implementation
of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). At the same time, I
would urge Japan to continue its support for the implementation of the
2nd IAI Work Plan (2009-20015). I highly appreciate Japan’s strong and
full support for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre)
in Jakarta, and welcome Japan’s proposal to hold an international
conference in 2012 to share its experiences and lessons learned from
the earthquake and tsunami on human security, and the proposal on Disaster Management Network and Professional Development Training Service for ASEAN Region.
In the areas of trade and investment, I would like to
urge all parties concerned to accelerate a smooth implementation of the
agreement on ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP)
and continue cooperation to enhance preferential treatment under AJCEP,
especially the strengthening of the rules, custom procedures and trade
facilitation. I would like to call for an early conclusion of the
negotiations on trade in services and investment in order to realize
the target of establishing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Free Trade
Area. I would also like to congratulate ASEAN-Japan Center for playing a
key role in promoting increased exports, flows of investment and
tourism between ASEAN Member States and Japan.
Finally, without any doubt, I am convinced that Japan
remains committed to helping narrow the development gaps in ASEAN
through more active contribution to sub-regional development efforts.
Thank you for your kind attention!
Bali, 18 November 2011
(11:10 - 12:10)
Your Excellency Chairman,
Your Excellency President of the Republic of Korea,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I would like to join other ASEAN leaders in extending
our warmest welcome to H.E. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of
Korea (ROK) to this 14th ASEAN-ROK Summit. Taking this opportunity, I
would like to extend Cambodia’s deep gratitude to the Republic of Korea
for providing timely emergency relief assistance to Cambodia and other
countries in the region suffering from the recent flooding.
At the outset, I would like to reiterate Cambodia’s firm
stance regarding peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula. We urge
all parties concerned to engage in peaceful negotiations in order to
build confidence and maintain regional peace and stability. I would
like also to highly value the contribution made by the ROK to the
maintenance of peace, stability and security and to the promotion of
development in the region.
ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations have achieved significant
progress on all fronts of cooperation. I am very pleased that ASEAN-ROK
relations have reached the level of strategic partnership, manifested
in the adoption of a concrete Action Plan (2011-2015). This strategic
partnership will enable both sides to jointly and quickly respond
effectively to emerging international challenges. Cambodia welcomes the
first ROK-Mekong Region Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
held in October 2011. I believe that this cooperation will not only
strengthen economic and development cooperation in the Mekong region,
but will also provide synergy for the ASEAN Community building.
We all have acknowledged the need for collective action
in order to address the threat of climate change. In this regard, I
welcome the establishment of Asian Forest Cooperation Organization
(AfoCO) and the signing of ASEAN-ROK Forestry Cooperation Program to
bolster forestry cooperation and build capacity in dealing with climate
change in the region. At the same time, I encourage ASEAN and Korean
Ministers to explore more areas for cooperation in order to further
cement ASEAN-ROK strategic partnership.
I have noted with satisfaction the growth in two-way
trade between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea. I am very optimistic
that we will be able to achieve the targeted two-way trade volume of
US$ 150 billion by 2015. Taking this opportunity, I would like to urge
the ROK to open Korean markets to the exports of the ASEAN new member
countries by promoting investments in the new ASEAN countries,
organizing visits of Korean investors and joint trade fair so on and so
forth.
I would also like to thank the Government of the
Republic of Korea for pledging US$ 5 million per annum to ASEAN-ROK
Cooperation Fund from 2010 onward and its continued financial support
for ASEAN Integration (IAI) projects. The assistance is critical for
the realization of ASEAN Community in 2015 and East Asia Community in
the longer term.
Thank you for your attention!
Remarks at the 14th ASEAN+3 Summit
Bali, Indonesia, 18 November 2011
(14:00 –16:00)
- Your Excellency Chairman,
- Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN+3 Leaders,
- Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is my great pleasure and honour to once again participate in the ASEAN+3 Summit.
At the outset, I would like to welcome the establishment
of a permanent mechanism on Emergency Rice Reserve and Regional Rice
Reserve, which was recently signed by the Ministers of Agriculture in
Jakarta, October 2011. I believe that this agreement will not only
strengthen ASEAN+3 cooperation in food security, but also serve as a
foundation for future cooperation and development between the ASEAN+3
nations in other non-traditional security issues, such as energy.
The region, as well as the world, has been transformed
politically, economically and socially. Although the global financial
crisis has passed, uncertainties remain. Under these circumstances, as
our way forward, the deepening of ASEAN+3 cooperation is of critical
importance to address and avert potential crises as well as to promote
regional development. At the global level, ASEAN+3 countries should
work closely and in a more coordinated manner to shape G20 to become an
effective global forum in addressing policy issues pertaining to the
promotion of financial stability and global economy.
At the regional level, ASEAN+3 countries should devote
more efforts to accelerating the realization of the ASEAN community by
2015 and, in a longer term, moving toward the East Asia Community.
Taking this opportunity, Cambodia would like to thank the Plus Three
countries for providing assistance in the implementation of the
Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and request further assistance,
in particular, to ensure the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN
Connectivity including both soft and hard infrastructure in order to
bridge the development gap within ASEAN and between ASEAN and the Plus
Three countries. Moreover, since disaster management has become one of
the foremost development challenges for the region, I encourage the Plus
Three countries to support the functioning of the recently established
ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster
management (AHA Centre).
Cambodia supports the initiative for the establishment
of the East Asia Free Trade Area (EAFTA) and the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA). But this needs to be progressed
gradually through the negotiation on the establishment of the ASEAN Plus
Plus FTA. In this process, given the special conditions of low level
development in some ASEAN member countries, such as Cambodia, I would
like our partner countries to consider providing support for these
countries in the areas of financial and technical assistance, as well
as providing more preferential rules of origin than other partners
involving in the establishment of the ASEAN Plus Plus FTA. Providing
more preferential rules of origin than the normal ones will attract
more investments to the less developed countries, creating jobs,
generating incomes, reducing poverty and development gap in ASEAN, and
also between ASEAN countries and their dialogue partners.
In general, during the past decades our cooperation has
advanced steadily. Besides financial, economic and trade cooperation,
strengthening the cultural and social ties among ASEAN+3 countries is
also of the critical importance. Therefore, in 2012 in order to
celebrate the 15th Anniversary of ASEAN+3 successful cooperation and to
honor our achievements, Cambodia is having a great privilege to host
the ASEAN+3’s Cultural Performance in Siem Reap and ASEAN+3 Youth Leadership Program in
Phnom Penh. I believe celebrating such social and cultural events, the
ASEAN+3 cooperation will be further strengthened and will advance the
progress of East Asia toward a “Peaceful, Prosperous and Progressive East Asia Community”.
Thank you for your attention!
Address at the third ASEAN-US LEADERS’ MEETING
Bali, 18th November 2011
(16:30-17:30)
Excellency Chairman,
Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to welcome His Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, to the third “ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting”.
Let me start by noting that this is a difficult year for the world
economy and today’s meeting is timely, as it provides opportunity for
the ASEAN member countries and the United States of America to
re-emphasize their commitment to enhancing dialogue and cooperation. In
this regard, I highly appreciate the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership for Enduring Peace and Prosperity (2011-2015), which expand and deepen cooperation beyond the existing framework to include 21 areas of cooperation.
We continue to recognize the indispensable and strategic
role of the US in ensuring global stability and the economic
development in the world. Moreover, I am of the view that ASEAN-US
cooperation has become even more important while we are facing global
economic uncertainty and other emerging challenges. We, therefore,
should be more resolved to strengthen cooperation under the ASEAN-US
Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) in order to
facilitate and promote trade and investment from the US, thereby
boosting ASEAN-US economic cooperation to be more proactive and
dynamic. In this spirit, I welcome the increasing role of the United
States of America in building the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC),
especially by providing financial contribution as well as technical
assistance to ensure the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN
Connectivity, which constitutes a critically important component for
bridging development gap within the ASEAN region.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to call for more
vigorous cooperation under the framework of ASEAN-US Enhanced
Partnership. While sustaining efforts to ensure effective cooperation
in the existing priority areas, I would like to request the US to give
top priority to strengthen and expand cooperation in the following
areas: (i) ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises, (ii) Capacity-building
programs to improve ASEAN’s capability for disaster management and
(iii) Human resource development.
Moreover, I would like to urge the ASEAN-US Eminent
Persons Group to double their efforts to explore new approaches and
propose concrete and practical recommendations to elevate ASEAN-US
cooperation into a “strategic partnership”. Cambodia
highly appreciates and deeply thanks the US for the financial support
extended to Lower Mekong countries to promote cooperation in the key
areas such as: environment, health, education and infrastructure. I am
particularly encouraged to learn that Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI)
Concept Paper and Plan of Action have been recently adopted during the
Fourth US-Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting. I hope that the Lower
Mekong Initiative Plan of Action will be effectively and timely
implemented.
Before I conclude, allow me to say a few words about
the 2012 ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting, as Cambodia will assume the ASEAN
Chairmanship. As the ASEAN Chair next year, Cambodia has the honor to
invite Your Excellency the President of the United States of America to
participate in the Fourth “ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting” to be held in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia. The Meeting will also coincide with the 35th Anniversary of the ASEAN – US Relations.
Thank you for your kind attention!
Address at The 4th ASEAN-UN Summit
Bali, Indonesia, 19 November 2011
(09:00 – 10:00)
Excellency Chairman,
Excellency Secretary General of the United Nations,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
At the outset, I would like to join all ASEAN Leaders in extending a very warm welcome to H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, to the 4th ASEAN-UN Summit.
I am very pleased to note that during the last few years
a good progress has been made in the ASEAN-UN relations. More
importantly, I am delighted that the ASEAN-UN relations have been
elevated to a comprehensive partnership level at this Summit. Today, we
jointly adopt the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations
to deepen cooperation in a number of priority areas, among others, the
establishment of ASEAN Community in 2015, the implementation of the
Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, cooperation in food and energy
security and attainment of the MDGs, narrowing the development gap,
disaster management, climate change and human resource development.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank and
request the UN specialized agencies, funds and programs to further
actively participate in the implementation of ASEAN projects,
especially projects under the framework of Initiative for ASEAN
Integration (IAI) 2009-2015 and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity in order to materialize ASEAN Community in 2015.
With the view to further bolstering ASEAN-UN
Partnership, I would like to express our support for the proposal to
institutionalize the ASEAN-UN Summit to become an annual meeting. This
is very important for ensuring our endeavors to achieve the MDGs in
light of global economic uncertainty, rising food and oil prices and
natural disasters. Moreover, there is more room for strengthening ASEAN
and UN cooperation in different areas, especially in peacekeeping
operations and demining.
In general, disaster management has currently become
one of the foremost development challenges. Indeed, we are now more
vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoon, flooding, earthquake
and tsunami than ever before. Recent flooding in number of ASEAN
countries including Cambodia, and particularly Thailand, has had
serious negative consequences, requiring us therefore to establish a
systematic system of preparedness for managing future natural
disasters. To this end, I once again would like to express our
appreciation for the formulation of the “ASEAN-UN Strategic Plan of Action on Disaster Management (2011-2015)”
and call upon for the acceleration of its implementation. Moreover, I
encourage the UN to provide support for the operation of the recently
established ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).
Finally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the
United Nations for humanitarian assistance provided to the Least
Developed Countries (LDC) and request that this leading global
institution should continue their assistance to ASEAN member countries
in order to realize the MDGs and reduce poverty as quickly as possible.
Address at the 9th ASEAN-INDIA Summit
Bali, Indonesia, November 19, 2011
(10:20-11:20)
Excellency Chairman,
Excellency Prime Minister of India,
Your Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
First of all, as the ASEAN-India coordinating country, I would like to join ASEAN Leaders in welcoming H.E Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, to this 9th ASEAN-India Summit.
I am pleased to express my greatest satisfaction on the
ASEAN-India Cooperation, since its first Summit in Phnom Penh in 2002,
which have covered all sectors, including political, security,
economic and cultural cooperation. Last year, we made another milestone
by endorsing the Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-India
Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity (2010-2015).
Therefore, for the Summit next year, which commemorates the 20th year
anniversary, we should promote the implementation of the Plan of Action
aiming at elevating our comprehensive partnership to a strategic level.
We thank India for her active contribution to the
implementation of IAI Work Plan. Moreover, we also request for further
support for the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan II
(2009-2015), which is another step toward the realization ASEAN
Community in 2015. Cambodia would like to highly value India for the
establishment of English Language Training Center and Entrepreneurship
Development Centers in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. In this
regard, Cambodia hopes that India will approve Cambodia’s proposal to
set up a Vocational Training Center (VTC) in Kampong Cham Province,
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Moreover, ASEAN wishes to see more active role played
by India in ASEAN Connectivity, in both hard and soft infrastructure
linkages. Indeed, the development of transportation networks between
ASEAN and South Asia, in particular, the construction of the
India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway, with its plan to extend to Laos and
Cambodia, as well as the development of a new
India-Myanmar-Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia Highway is very important for all
countries concerned, in economic and commercial terms. We therefore
must advance this cooperation further. Concerning this issue, I believe
that we should push for the ASEAN-India Transport Ministers’ Meeting
to take place as soon as possible.
At the same time, we are delighted that good progress
has been made in the negotiation on Free Trade Agreement on Services
and Investment. However, we would like to propose that the round of
negotiations on FTA on Services and Investment should be concluded
before the 10th ASEAN-India Summit in 2012 in Cambodia. I believe the
outcome will be another critical milestone to commemorate the 20th
Anniversary of ASEAN-India relations in 2012.
India is the main trading partner of ASEAN. The total
trade volume between ASEAN and India has been increasing steadily.
Through the reactivation of the ASEAN-India Business Advisory Council
and the ASEAN-India Business Summit, I believe that total trade volume
between ASEAN and India will reach the target of US$ 70 billion next
year. With all these efforts, Cambodia welcomes the proposal to hold
ASEAN-India trade exhibition in India after the 10th ASEAN-India Summit
in 2012. At the same time, Cambodia would like to welcome the “Open Skies”
Agreement, whose implementation commences this year. Cambodia fully
supports the proposal to simplify visa application in order to
encourage business and tourism. We strongly believe that our efforts
will further strengthen tourism sector and ASEAN-India Business.
I highly appreciate the successful conclusion of the
two meetings of the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which take
stock of the 20 years of ASEAN-India cooperation and charts future
direction of ASEAN-India dialogue relations.
Thank You for attention!
EndItem.