Hun Sen leaves Cambodia for 22nd ASEAN Summit in Brunei

Prime Minister Hun and a high-level delegation left Cambodia early Wednesday morning to join the 22nd annual ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on April 24 – 25. The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dated April 19th, said, the purpose of the summit is to discuss ASEAN's central role within the regional architecture, ASEAN's future direction for regional and international issues, as well as other concerns and interests that pertains to the ASEAN community. The delegation going with Hun Sen to the summit includes Foreign Ministers Hor Namhong, Minister of Commerce, Cham Prasidh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Sun Chantol, and other high ranking government officials following the invitation from Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei. Sri Thamrong, the Prime Minister’s advisor, told reporters before the departure, that the summit's theme under Brunei's chairmanship is "Our People, Our Future Together". Hun Sen and the delegation will return on Thursday afternoon. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was created to accelerate economic growth, social progress, cultural development, and regional peace and stability in Southeast Asia. There are ten members which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.