A security person stands outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct 25, 2021. (ACHMAD IBRAHIM / AP)
PHNOM PENH – A summit between US President Joe Biden and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations slated for March 28-29 has been postponed, Cambodian foreign ministry's spokesman Chum Sounry said on Thursday.
Cambodian foreign ministry's spokesman Chum Sounry said the country, as the chair of ASEAN for 2022, has been flexible with regards to the proposed dates and has made special arrangements on domestic agenda to fulfill its regional and international duties
"The proposed dates, both from ASEAN and from the US, were not convenient for our leaders due to their respective heavy agenda. For that reason, both sides, ASEAN and the US, decided to postpone the summit and continue to work for a mutually convenient date," he said in a statement via social media Telegram.
He said Cambodia, as the chair of ASEAN for 2022, has been flexible with regards to the proposed dates and has made special arrangements on domestic agenda to fulfill its regional and international duties.
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"But for leaders' convenience and possible attendance, Cambodia has agreed with ASEAN member states to postpone the meeting," Sounry said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Monday that at least three ASEAN leaders could not attend the meeting if it was held on schedule.
Currently, Indonesia as the country coordinator for ASEAN-US partnership is coordinating for the new date of the summit.
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ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.