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Statement by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the
Kingdom of
Cambodia at the
second ASEAN-US LEADERS MEETING, New York, 24 September 2010
Your Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of
AmericaYour Majesty the Sultan, Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express our profound gratitude to the President
of the United
States of America, His Excellency Barack Obama, for the
hospitality and the excellent
arrangements made for the second ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting.
This summit has demonstrated that both ASEAN and the U.S. are
committed to
further strengthening and enhancing interactions in political,
security, economic, socialand cultural areas by displaying
partnership and strengthening cooperation aimed at
ensuring stability and development in Southeast Asia. In this
regard, I would like toreiterate my support for the President
Obamas initiative to establish an Eminent PersonsGroup (EPG) in
order to explore ways and means to deepen and widen the
existing
cooperation between ASEAN and the US as well as to recommend
measures for
deepening ASEAN-US relations in the future.
As we all know, the geo-political and economic landscape has
changed, as Asia
come out of the Global Financial Crisis. Indeed, with the
increased importance of East
Asia economy, all of us remain to recognize the great
pre-requisite role of the US inensuring world stability and
development. In this spirit, Cambodia welcomes the USs
participation in the East Asia Summit, a new mechanism of the
regional architecture
which ASEAN has been continuing its centrality. With the USs
participation in thisframework, Cambodia is of the view that we
should add political and security
cooperation as another area to the five priority areas which
have been implemented
namely, energy, education, finance, combating Avian-Influenza
and natural disastermitigation. At the same time, Cambodia urges
the US to support ASEAN Chairs regular
participation in the G-20 as it emerges as the key global forum
to tackle issues and
address the future development of the worlds economic and
financial system.
On the trade front, the U.S. continues to be the key export
market and great source
of investment for the ASEAN countries. In this regard, Cambodia
welcomes the new
initiatives aimed at implementing the Joint Vision Statement on
the ASEAN-U.S.Enhanced Partnership adopted in 2005, and notable
efforts to promote cooperation in
trade facilitation, trade finance and standards under the
ASEAN-US Trade and
Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA). At the same time, I
would like to urge forthe expedition of the new Action Plan for the
ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership (2010-
2015) in order to ensure its step-by-step implementation in
accordance with the set
timeframe.
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ASEAN's commitment to free trade and building the ASEAN
EconomicCommunity (AEC) has helped reinforce an open multilateral
trading system. In addition,
stronger commitments to attract US investment at both national
and regional levels are
required to boost overall U.S.-ASEAN economic activity. Thus,
ASEAN welcomesincreasing US role in building the AEC, especially we
welcomes financial contribution as
well as technical assistance from the US in order to support the
implementation of theMaster Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, which is
the foundation for narrowingdevelopment gaps within ASEAN and
stepping stone toward East Asian integration in the
longer term.
Cambodia welcomes a broader and deeper ASEAN-U.S. cooperation to
promoteeducational exchanges, including in science and technology
and in people-to-people
interactions. The US can play an important role in developing
human resources to support
ASEAN community building process by focusing especially on newer
members ofASEAN. In this regard, Cambodia highly appreciates the
capacity building component of
the trade facilitation arrangement.
The recent Second U.S.-Lower Mekong meeting was a great success.
I would like
to thank the US for the financial support for this cooperation.
Our Mekong countries look
forward to promote cooperation in the areas of environment,
health, education andinfrastructure development and discuss
specific activities for cooperation.
On the security front, the ASEAN region is wrestling with
fighting terrorism and
here too the United States is a major player. The US presence
has been a determiningreason for the peace and stability in Asia.
It has helped ensure a booming and dynamic
Southeast Asia. Cambodia has greatly benefited from capacity
training in counter-terrorism that the United States and some
regional countries that have provided us during
the past years. The ASEAN Regional Forum has now evolved into
the region's premier
security forum. At the same time, Cambodia has embarked on the
training of peace-keeping forces, making humble contribution to
regional and world peace.
Cambodia is committed to the regime ofnuclear non-proliferation
and welcomesefforts exerted to re-launch the six party talks. Peace
and stability on the Korean
peninsula are critical for the prosperity of East Asia.
After all, ASEAN and the US must find new ways and a new vision
for a shared
future. Both sides will gain from engagement. The agenda for
this could cover a broad
range of issues, from poverty reduction, economy, trade and
investment, energy,
environment protection and climate change management to nuclear
disarmament,combating terrorism, and confidence-building
measures.
Once again, I am convinced that our todays meeting will lay out
some new
important foundations for ensuring a success of our win-win
cooperation, which is the top
interest of our countries and peoples.
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