On 14 February 2016 (15 February in Cambodia), prior to participating in the US-ASEAN Summit to be held from 15 through to 16 February in the Californian resort of Sunnylands, Samdech Techo Hun Sen took his tight schedule to meet with some 600 Cambodian-Americans from different US states in the Hyatt Regency hotel. Samdech shared with those compatriots that uniting, respecting, and treating each other Cambodians throughout the world with affection, irrespective of political tendency bears great significance in making Cambodia a long lasting and developed nation. He made a point that that was contrary to instigating conflict and division that brought about loss of territory and degradation by foreigners.
Samdech Techo considered the current Cambodia-US relations better than ever, though the two countries had had some differences in the past. While previous trade volume was not even USD 100 million, the current trade between the two countries reached a volume of over USD 3 billion. Samdech Techo stated: “Cambodia still wishes to see bigger and bigger volume of trade into the US market.” Assessing the state of US-ASEAN relations, Samdech Techo argued that good relations between the US and ASEAN member countries contribute to strengthening relations of countries in the Asia-Pacific as a whole and Cambodia’s joining ASEAN has brought about great meaning and advantage for its defense of independence and sovereignty./.