Post: Asean Integral to Regional Peace and Stability, States Cambodian Foreign Minister

Phnom penh: Cambodian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn stated that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains an indispensable platform for regional peace and stability, guided by its Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). According to Nam News Network, for nearly six decades, ASEAN has played a crucial role in transforming Southeast Asia from a region marked by division and uncertainty into one increasingly defined by dialogue, cooperation, and shared prosperity. In an official message marking ASEAN's 59th anniversary, Sokhonn highlighted the organization's achievements while acknowledging the current challenges it faces. However, the region now grapples with a more volatile global climate, including resurging armed conflicts, intensifying geopolitical tensions, and mounting strain on international law and multilateralism. In this uncertain environment, Sokhonn emphasized that ASEAN cannot afford to be passive. He stressed that ASEAN must n ot merely respond to change but also play an active role in shaping it, with its unity and centrality being critical to navigating modern geopolitical headwinds. Sokhonn, who also serves as a deputy prime minister, expressed pride in Cambodia's contributions to the region since joining ASEAN in 1999. He reiterated Cambodia's firm commitment to strengthening ASEAN's unity, resilience, and global relevance while strictly upholding the ASEAN Charter and the TAC in both principle and practice. Founded on August 8, 1967, ASEAN currently includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.