European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) and European Council President Charles Michel (left) pose with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen during arrivals for the EU-ASEAN summit in Brussels, Dec 14, 2022. (OLIVIER MATTHYS / AP)
PHNOM PENH – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen told the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) that the two blocs shall work closely to ensure rules-based international order for mutual benefits, according to a media release on Thursday.
Hun Sen, chair of the ASEAN for 2022, made the remarks at the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels on Wednesday, saying that the summit was held at a time when multilateralism was under severe pressure.
Hun Sen said the ASEAN and the EU shall do their utmost to protect and promote the UN Charter and its laws, norms and principles, which are recognized globally as the foundation for building peace and stability, and improving the quality of life and livelihoods of people in the region and the world
"What is even more worrying is that global peace has also been threatened by the actions of some states that openly violate internationally-recognized laws, norms and principles," he said.
"For the way forward, I believe that the ASEAN and the EU shall work closely to ensure international order based on the rule of law, openness, transparency and mutual benefit," he added.
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Hun Sen said the ASEAN and the EU shall do their utmost to protect and promote the United Nations Charter and its laws, norms and principles, which are recognized globally as the foundation for building peace and stability, and improving the quality of life and livelihoods of people in the region and the world.
The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.