His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, attended the 17th East Asia Summit; and Closing Ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits as well as Related Summits and handing over of the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Republic of Indonesia, which were held at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, Kingdom of Cambodia. Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen. In a Closing Statement by His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia as ASEAN Chair, whereby His Excellency expressed appreciation to ASEAN Heads of State and Government in attending the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.
His Excellency the Prime Minister of Cambodia then honoured His Excellency Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi for his contributions since his appointment as Secretary-General of ASEAN. His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia then handed over the ASEAN Chairmanship to His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia through the passing of the ASEAN Chair’s Gavel as a symbolic handover to the Republic of Indonesia as incoming ASEAN Chair in 2023. The President of the Republic of Indonesia in his remarks outlined the Republic of Indonesia’s priorities during its ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”; and a video presentation from the Republic of Indonesia as ASEAN Chair in 2023.
During the Ceremony, Awang Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri Haji Damit of Brunei Darussalam was announced as the recipient of the ASEAN Prize 2022, in which he was honoured for his active leadership in youth movement and volunteerism especially in mobilising assistance for displaced persons, which embodies the spirit of a people-oriented and resilient ASEAN Community. Under Cambodia’s chairmanship this year, Leaders, among other things, agreed in-principle to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN and for Timor-Leste to be granted an observer status in ASEAN, this includes allowing its participation in all ASEAN Meetings as well as at the Summit plenaries. ASEAN also elevated its relations with the Republic of India and the United States, through the establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with both countries. Meanwhile, the Leaders’ Announcement on the Substantial Conclusion of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, AANZFTA Upgrade Negotiations also marks the achievement of one of Cambodia’s Priority Economic Deliverables, PEDs, in which Brunei Darussalam is Country Coordinator for the AANZFTA.
Source: Radio Television Brunei