- Your Majesty the Sultan;
- Excellencies ASEAN Heads of States and Governments;
- Excellency Secretary-General of ASEAN Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
A year has passed since I received the ASEAN chairmanship gavel from H.M. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam on 28 October 2021, a year full of memorable and historical moment for me and for Cambodia, a great honor to have assumed this rotating chairmanship.
As we are making an all-out effort to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and deal with the Myanmar crisis, unexpected situations with far-reaching security, social and economic consequences have emerged. Nevertheless, ASEAN has managed, once again, to navigated unscathed through these rough waters and successfully delivered substantial outcomes. We have lived up to our chairmanship’s theme “ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together”.
I am pleased that the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits are now behind us, thanks to the full cooperation, support and flexibilities extended by ASEAN Member States and all our Partners, we have a long list of achievements to be proud of.
The pleasure that I have in hosting, in Phnom Penh and in person, all the Leaders and delegates is immeasurable. For the last two years, our physical interactions were interrupted by the spread of COVID-19 and its deadly variants. It is certainly a major challenges to conclude 16 Summits within these four days, despite significant challenges.I recognize the hard work of our team and the extra mile they have taken to ensure that everyone is comfortable and this Chairmanship ends with a great success.
- Your Majesty, Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Within these four days, we have had a comprehensive and productive discussions on the ways forward to strengthen our ASEAN centrality and our relevance vis-a-vis our in its external partners, particularly at a time when the world is amidst the fast-evolving complex regional and international issues.
We have adopted and noted a total of 70 outcome documents and declarations covering the three pillars of the ASEAN Community and endorsed various cooperation frameworks with our Dialogue Partners. To advance and deepen relations with its partners, ASEAN agreed to extend the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) to include Ukraine during the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits. Similarly, 6 other states, namely Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates, have similarly signed on the TAC during the 55th AMM and Related meeting last August, bringing a total of 510 countries that are parties to this Treaty. We have issued the Joint Statement on the 20th Anniversary of the DOC to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the DOC in 2002. The 25th ASEAN Plus Three Summit also adopted important documents, including the Statement on the Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation.
As far as our ASEAN Community building is concerned, we had adopted the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on ASEAN A.C.T. Addressing Challenges Together, the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the 55th Anniversary of ASEAN, and the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN Connectivity Post-2025 Agenda. We adopted a Declaration on Building more Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Future through Unlocking Women entrepreneurship in ASEAN, following the successful 2nd ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit on this theme, on 12 October 2022; We are so pleased to be able to replicate for the second time the 2nd ASEAN Global Dialogue to exchange views to build a resilient and sustainable ASEAN in the Post Covid-19 Era.
- Your Majesty, Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Lastly, I would like to stress that ASEAN centrality is the primary driving force for substantive dialogue and collaboration with our external partners through various ASEAN-led mechanisms. We must maintain ASEAN unity regardless of circumstances for the best interests of the whole region. Fostering solidarity and unity will remain ASEAN’s top priority in the coming years. As attested by this year’s spirit of “Togetherness”, we have been able to address and overcome many challenges facing our region, thus enable us to secure peace, prosperity, and harmony within for our ASEAN family.
The Kingdom of Cambodia has full confidence that the Republic of Indonesia, as the incoming ASEAN chair, will continue to drive ASEAN forward to achieve our ultimate goal of having a peaceful, resilient, and inclusive ASEAN Community.
On this auspicious occasion, following my speech, I have the honor to hand over the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Republic of Indonesia for the year 2023, along with my best wishes to His Excellency President JOKO WIDODO for a successful chairmanship.
But right before that before handing Over the Chairmanship Gavel, allow me to take this opportunity to present to H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, with the Royal Order of Sahametrei Grand Cross of the Government of the Kingdom Cambodia. The Medal is conferred in recognition of Dato Lim Jock Hoi’s devotion and relentless efforts in ASEAN Community building process, during his tenure as the ASEAN Secretary-General.
At the same time, may I take this opportunity to announce that Mr. Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri Haji Damit of Brunei Darussalam has been conferred the ASEAN Prize 2022. The award is in recognition for his work that enhances the spirit of a people- oriented and resilient ASEAN Community. For over a decade, Mr. Muhammad Damit has been actively mobilizing assistance and driving youth volunteerism in support for the upliftment and development of marginalized and vulnerable people across the region.
I would also take this opportunity to present an invitation to all ASEAN Heads of States and Governments to attend the Official Opening Ceremony of the 32nd SEA GAMES on May 5, 2023 and the Opening Ceremony of the 12th ASEAN Para Games on June 3, 2023, another milestones for our solidarity, perseverance and friendship.
Finally, I would like to wish Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen good health and successes in your future endeavors.
Thank you!
