DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian PM urges ARF FMs to work closely” plus 4 more

PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday urged ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) foreign ministers to work closely to deal with challenges in economy, security, natural disasters and climate change in order to build peace and stability for the region and the world at large.

The premier made the remarks during a meeting with foreign ministers and representatives from 27 countries and Secretary- General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan at the Peace Palace, Eang Sophallet, spokesman for Prime Minister Hun Sen, told reporters after the one-hour meeting. The ARF, established in 1994, is a key forum for security dialogues in Asia.

The foreign ministers were led by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

They are all gathering here to attend the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, Post Ministerial Conference, the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum, and the 2nd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' meeting, which run from Monday through Friday.

Hun Sen said that their participation in these significant events reflected solidarity and close cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners.

The premier said as ASEAN has been closely working toward a community in 2015, the assistance from ASEAN's development partners is very important to help the bloc in integration work.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The 2nd East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' meeting kicked off at the Peace Palace here on Thursday, discussing ways to enhance cooperation and exchanging views on various issues, according to a press release from Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.

The meeting was chaired by Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and attended by the Foreign Ministers from 18 EAS participating countries including the 10 ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners: China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and India.

In his opening remarks, Hor Namhong said the East Asia Summit was established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December 2005. Since then, there has been significant progress in five priority areas of cooperation -- energy, education, finance, disaster management and epidemic diseases.

"I believe that the meeting will produce fruitful results to deepen our EAS cooperation," he said.

The EAS foreign ministers will crucially focus on review and future direction of the EAS cooperation and the preparation for the 7th East Asia Summit (EAS) to be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov. 20, 2012.

Furthermore, the foreign ministers will also exchange views on regional and international issues.

PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang reaffirmed China's commitment to the path of peaceful development and its foreign policy of fostering friendship and partnership with its neighbors at the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers'Meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

He stressed that given the continuing profound impact of the international financial crisis, China and ASEAN have common interests and responsibilities in upholding regional peace and stability and maintaining the growth momentum of Asia.

He urged the two sides to view and deal with their relations with a strategic and long-term perspective, step up strategic communication, and further advance practical cooperation to achieve win-win results.

Minister Yang also made proposals on enhancing China-ASEAN cooperation in economic, trade, connectivity, maritime cooperation, social, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He expressed China's readiness to adjust cooperation priorities in the light of actual needs of ASEAN community building.

ASEAN countries commended China's contribution to Asia's development and world economic recovery and expressed appreciation of China's long-standing support to ASEAN community building and ASEAN's major role in East Asia cooperation.

They welcomed China's intention to open a permanent mission to ASEAN in Jakarta and agreed with Minister Yang's proposals for closer China-ASEAN cooperation and expressed their readiness to work with China to push their cooperation forward.

Participants at the meeting spoke highly of the positive results of China-ASEAN dialogue relations over the past 20 years and more. They agreed to further enhance good-neighborly relations and mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and maintain the sound momentum of all-round development of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership.

PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN and the United States on Wednesday pledged to forge close ties in economy, politics, education, science and technology, according to a joint statement.

Held at Phnom Penh's Peace Palace, the ASEAN-U.S. foreign ministers' conference was co-chaired by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The U.S. announced the Asia Pacific Strategic Engagement Initiative designed to increase U.S. assistance to the region, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to advance its partnership with ASEAN.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction the enhancing and expanding of the ASEAN-U.S. cooperation, which has contributed to the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

ASEAN welcomed the U.S. proposal for the "Commitment to Connectivity: ASEAN-U.S. Business Forum" to be held on July 13 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, saying that the forum will bring together ASEAN and U.S. senior officials and business leaders to discuss how best to align public and private efforts to support ASEAN integration and connectivity.

ASEAN welcomed the U.S. support to the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, which constitutes an important component for bridging the development gap within ASEAN.

ASEAN welcomed efforts by the U.S. to increase its investment in the Lower Mekong Region through the Lower Mekong Initiative to advance ASEAN integration and connectivity.

ASEAN welcomed the U.S. announcement to launch an ASEAN Fullbright pilot program and commended efforts to invigorate science and technology cooperation, particularly in the area of health service.

The meeting recognized the growing significance of maritime cooperation in the region and underscored the importance to regional peace and stability of ensuring maritime safety, freedom of navigation, respect for international law, and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea.

"The meeting expressed support for the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), as well as the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS," the statement said.

However, the Chinese side stressed that the DOC was jointly signed by China and ASEAN countries in 2002, and should be complied by all members concerned. Otherwise, it will undermine mutual trust.

Some ASEAN countries proposed to start discussion on a code of conduct in the South China Sea. The Chinese side expressed willingness to consider the proposal seriously and hopes to be able to start discussion on COC when conditions are ripe.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN and Japanese foreign ministers' meeting was concluded here on Wednesday, praising good cooperation between the two sides in all fields, according to a joint statement.

The meeting was co-chaired by Marty M. Natalegawa, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Koichiro Gemba, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The statement said that the ASEAN-Japan ties in trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people connection are very good.

The Ministers were pleased to note the good progress in the development of a roadmap for ASEAN-Japan Economic Relations in the next 10 years and expressed confidence that the roadmap would be completed in time for submission to the 18th Consultations between the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and the Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, which will be held in Siem Reap, Cambodia in August 2012.

The meeting also noted the status of the negotiations on the ASEAN-Japan Trade in Services and Investment Agreements and reaffirmed the need to continue these negotiations for the ASEAN- Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

In addition, the ASEAN Ministers highly appreciated Japan's strong support to the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), particularly through the IAI Work Plan II (2009- 2015).

Meanwhile, the meeting reiterated that disaster management and emergency response are issues of highest priority for ASEAN and Japan.

The ASEAN Ministers welcomed Japan's strong support for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) through projects such as "Establishment of an Integrated Information and Communication Technology System to strengthen the operation of the AHA Centre" and "Establishment of a Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN".

Also, they welcomed that Japan will seek to expand its cooperation with ASEAN and ASEAN member states in the area of utilization of outer space, including the possibility of expanding the scope of their cooperation in the ASEAN Disaster Management Network in the region.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.