Phnom Penh — Cambodian Delegate Minister So Naro shared key outcomes from the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during a press conference on Tuesday.
Speaking on behalf of the Cambodian delegation, So Naro highlighted that the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) received the prestigious ASEAN Award 2025 — the only award presented this year. He described it as a proud moment for Cambodia, recognising UYFC’s significant contributions to youth development and community engagement across the ASEAN region.
The minister also underlined the historic admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th full member, noting that the achievement reflected the strong and consistent support of both former Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and current Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet.
During the plenary session, ASEAN leaders discussed ways to accelerate progress toward building a resilient, inclusive, and people-centred ASEAN Community under the theme “Our Shared Future.” They reaffirmed ASEAN’s central role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges. Leaders also witnessed the signing of the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and participated in the ASEAN Retreat to deliberate on key regional issues.
On behalf of Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed appreciation to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his efforts in supporting peaceful conflict resolution between Cambodia and Thailand. He also acknowledged the role of U.S. President Donald Trump in facilitating the recent ceasefire agreement and the support of ASEAN leaders in deploying the ASEAN Observer Team to monitor the peace process.
The “Joint Declaration” between Cambodia and Thailand, signed on October 26 and facilitated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, marked a milestone in ASEAN’s peacebuilding efforts.
Prime Minister Hun Manet also outlined three priorities for ASEAN’s future:
- Strengthening regional integration across all sectors;
- Unlocking the potential of the digital economy, projected to reach USD 2 trillion by 2030 through the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement;
- Ensuring sustainable and environmentally responsible development across the region.
According to So Naro, the Cambodian delegation’s participation in Malaysia was described as a “diplomacy marathon,” with Prime Minister Hun Manet attending 18 official meetings and holding 15 bilateral discussions with world leaders. He emphasised that the summit yielded substantial diplomatic and strategic gains, enhancing Cambodia’s international standing and reaffirming its commitment to regional peace and prosperity.
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