Mr. Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has recommended at ASEAN Meeting to establish a “travel corridor” for facilitating essential business travel in a progressive and safe manner amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Ministry’s press release on the conclusions of the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 53) and related meetings held through a video conference from Sept 9 to Sept 12, Mr. Prak Sokhonn emphasized that while tensions between major powers and the challenges of multilateralism are escalating, ASEAN needs to firmly uphold the spirit of group unity and neutrality in order to exercise the principles of the ASEAN Way.

He said that the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) will appoint a new executive director in mid of October and spoke highly of Vietnam’s initiative to establish the “Friends of ARMAC” group.

In regards to the 27th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting, Mr. Prak Sokhonn brought attention to the important role of coordinating regional health organizations and foreign partners in mobilizing support for the newly established COVID-19 Response Fund of ASEAN.

At the 21st ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, he also talked about the necessity of establishing a APT Reserve of Essential Supplies and thanked APT for its contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.

He also thanked Japan for supporting the establishment of the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, and emphasized the urgent need to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) later this year.

At the same time, he recommended China further support ASEAN’s efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals at the ASEAN-China meeting and thanked China for helping the bloc implement the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plans.