Marking 26 years in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia reflects on its journey from post-conflict member to active regional contributor.
On April 30, 1999, Cambodia joined the ASEAN family and became the 10th member of the bloc, and ever since, the association has always been an integral part of Cambodia’s foreign policy.
Cambodia has always been an active and constructive supporter and contributor to the ASEAN community-building process for broadening and deepening economic, political, security, and socio-cultural cooperation and development to ensure that ASEAN is a community of opportunities, a rules-based community, fully integrated, and a people-centred and -oriented region where no one is left behind, according to the Ministry of foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
So Naro, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister in charge of ASEAN affairs, emphasised the strategic importance of Cambodia’s ASEAN membership.
Naro said yesterday, “As a small and poor country with a relatively smaller population that has experienced civil war, genocide and international sanctions leading to isolation, Cambodia’s participation in ASEAN is extremely important for its foreign policy, ASEAN opened the door to regional legitimacy and economic opportunity.”
Naro said that Cambodia’s ASEAN membership has granted it equal rights in regional decision-making and strengthened its diplomatic ties, especially with major powers. Economic integration through ASEAN has boosted development, reduced poverty, enhanced people-to-people links, and supported growth in the tourism sector.
“The challenges for Cambodia are the same as ASEAN challenges, including security threats, geopolitical tensions, climate change, transnational crime, and the commercial tax increase issue,” he said. “Cambodia believes that ASEAN unity and solidarity are essential to effectively address these issues and maintain regional peace and stability.”
At the upcoming ASEAN Summit in May in Malaysia, Prime Minister Hun Manet has already announced Cambodia’s support for the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the Development of Strategic Plans to Implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, and Cambodia also strongly supports the formal inclusion of Timor-Leste as a full member of ASEAN during this summit.
Kin Phea, Director General of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC) of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that over the past 26 years, Cambodia has played a vital role in promoting ASEAN unity and centrality.
“Cambodia has consistently upheld ASEAN’s consensus-based principles in decision-making, particularly on sensitive or strategically significant issues for the region – especially matters related to the South China Sea and geopolitical rivalries,” he said.
During that time, Cambodia has hosted the ASEAN Summit three times — in 2002, 2012 and 2022.
As ASEAN Chair, Cambodia has contributed important initiatives to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Notably, Cambodia has often served as a stabilising force in ASEAN’s relations with China, as well as with other major powers, said Phea.
“Cambodia has gained significant benefits from joining ASEAN, particularly through the opening of broad diplomatic channels, which are crucial for the country, as well as economic opportunities and development,” he said.
ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by the founding members of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei joined ASEAN on January 7, 1984, followed by Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Laos and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.
