Cambodia urges US to spend time with ASEAN leaders

The US-ASEAN special meeting on May 12 and 13 will be the first time that President Biden will meet ASEAN leaders face-to-face since taking office. In the photo: Mr. Biden attended the US-ASEAN summit held online last October – Photo: REUTERS

The call was made by Mr. Kao Kim Hourn in an interview with Reuters news agency on May 6. As planned, ASEAN leaders will come to the US to attend the US-ASEAN special meeting on May 12 and 13.

“As a big country, a host country, the US should be more generous with the guests and leaders who are traveling to Washington, especially when he will talk about elevating the strategic partnership. strategy to a comprehensive strategic partnership”, Mr. Kao Kim Hourn raised the issue with Reuters.

Cambodia currently holds the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2022, so the voice of this country in regional related issues receives certain attention and attention.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is expected to attend the special US-ASEAN summit, marking his first visit to the White House since taking power in 1985, according to Reuters.

According to him Kao Kim Hourn, it is normal and appropriate for the host leader to meet the leader of the country holding the rotating chair of ASEAN.

However, the US side refused to hold such a meeting and according to him Kao Kim Hourn is the US Ambassador to Cambodia Patrick Murphy explained that because President Biden is too busy and the ASEAN – US conference will take place quite long.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kao Him Hourn’s comments.

Earlier, the White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Mr. Biden would hold a dinner at the White House for ASEAN leaders on May 12 and attend the US-ASEAN summit at the headquarters of the US State Department on May 13. -5.

The summit will “recognize ASEAN’s central role in delivering sustainable solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges and celebrate the 45th anniversary of the US-ASEAN relationship”.

Analysts and diplomats say ASEAN countries are frustrated that the US has not detailed its economic engagement plan with the region after withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership under Donald Trump.

The Biden administration has announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, but according to Kao Kim Hourn, things are still unclear and the US is still entangled in domestic problems and the war in Ukraine.