ASEAN Summits conclude with emphasis on post-pandemic recovery, ASEAN centrality

PHNOM PENH: The 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Cambodia concluded Sunday, achieving fruitful results for greater regional cooperation towards post-COVID-19 pandemic socio-economic recovery.

"Within these four days, we have had a comprehensive and productive discussion on the way forward to strengthen ASEAN centrality and our value in relation with our external partners, particularly at a time when the world is facing the fast evolving complex regional and international issue," Xinhua quoted Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen as saying at the closing ceremony of the four-day summits.

A total of 70 outcome documents and declarations covering the three pillars of ASEAN communities were adopted and noted at the summits, with various cooperation frameworks with dialogue partners endorsed, said Hun Sen.

For the ASEAN community building, the summits adopted the ASEAN Leaders' Statement on the 55th Anniversary of ASEAN, the ASEAN Leaders' Vision Statement on ASEAN A.C.T: Addressing Challenges Together, and the ASEAN Leaders' Statement on ASEAN Connectivity Post-2025 Agenda, he said.

On Friday, the ASEAN leaders agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th ASEAN member, according to an ASEAN leaders' statement.

"I would like to stress that ASEAN centrality is the primarily driving force for substantive dialogue and collaboration with our external partners through various ASEAN-led mechanisms," Hun Sen said.

At the closing ceremony, Hun Sen handed over the gavel of the ASEAN Chair to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

-- BERNAMA