Cambodia marks 27 years of ASEAN membership

Leaders of member states cross arms on the accession of Cambodia to ASEAN on April 30,1999. AKP

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Synopsis: Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn says Kingdom has expanded trade and advanced science and innovation through the bloc’s community-building efforts.

Cambodia yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of its accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with senior officials highlighting the country’s commitment to regional peace and development.

In a congratulatory message, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn underscored the enduring relevance of the Southeast Asian bloc’s founding principles, especially at a time of growing global uncertainty.

He pointed to key frameworks such as the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which emphasise respect for sovereignty and peaceful dispute resolution in keeping with international law. These principles, he said, have enabled ASEAN members to coexist peacefully.

“Amid an increasingly volatile global landscape, ASEAN must continue to uphold these principles and choose the path of peace over conflict,” he said.

Cambodia joined ASEAN on April 30, 1999, a milestone in its post-conflict reintegration into the regional and international community.

Over the past 27 years, the bloc has served as a vital platform for the Kingdom to advance its development agenda and strengthen its voice on regional and global stages.

According to Sokhonn, Cambodia’s participation in ASEAN’s community-building efforts has contributed to expanded trade and investment, improved regional connectivity, and promotion of science, technology, and innovation.

These developments, he added, have played a key role in enhancing livelihoods and preparing the country for challenges.

Sokhonn added that Cambodia has emerged as an active contributor to ASEAN’s evolution.

“Since joining ASEAN on 30 April 1999, Cambodia has assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship three times, helping to steer the association through important phases of its evolution,” he said.

“It has also advanced regional dialogue, reinforced ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture, and promoted practical cooperation across the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars.”

Sokhonn reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to working closely with fellow bloc countries to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

“Together, we will continue to strengthen ASEAN unity and centrality and build a more cohesive, inclusive, and resilient Community—one that is truly people-oriented and people-centered, leaving no one behind.”

-Khmer Times-