Heads up to Phnom Penh expats - the ASEAN summit meetings in Cambodia's capital are not quite finished - there is still the 43rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) which will be held from (today) Nov. 20 until Nov 25, 2022.

Vietnamese NA Chairman Starts Five-day Visit in Cambodia
AKP Phnom Penh, November 19, 2022 --

H.E. Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, this morning began his five-day official and friendly visit in Cambodia until Nov. 23, at the invitation of Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the Cambodian NA.

According to a press release of Cambodia's NA General Secretariat, during his stay in Cambodia, H.E. Vuong Dinh Hue will be granted a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, pay a courtesy call on Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, Cambodian President of Senate, and meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HE.

He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Cambodian NA President, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin to strengthen and expand the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies, as well as to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Cambodia-Vietnam diplomatic relations identified as Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year.

There will be also the signing ceremonies of memoranda of understanding between the two NAs and between the Cambodian Senate and the Vietnamese NA during the visit.

Besides, the Vietnamese NA chairman will lay wreathes and pay tribute at the Independence Monument, the Royal Memorial Statue of His Majesty the Late King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk (Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh), and the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument.

After that, H.E. Vuong Dinh Hue will attend the 43rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh from Nov. 20-25, 2022.
- AKP

Australian Defence Minister Visits Cambodia This Week
AKP Phnom Penh, November 22, 2022 --
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, H.E. the Hon Richard Marles MP, is travelling to Cambodia to attend the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

According to a media release of the Australian Department of Defence issued this morning, on the back of successful Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits attended by Australian Prime Minister H.E. Albanese two weeks ago, H.E. the Hon Richard Marles MP will participate in the 9th ADMM-Plus on Nov. 23.
- AKP

Defense Chiefs of S. Korea, Australia Agree to Expand Cooperation in Defense, Arms Industry
Written: 2022-11-23 09:13:53 / Updated: 2022-11-23 10:52:52
The defense chiefs of South Korea and Australia held talks in Cambodia on Tuesday and agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the arms industry.

According to Seoul's defense ministry, defense minister Lee Jong-sup and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, held a meeting in Siem Reap on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus.

In their first meeting since Lee's visit to Australia in August, the two sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in defense and the military, with a focus on increased personnel exchanges.

The two chiefs also agreed to up the frequency and level of bilateral and multilateral military drills and expand cooperation in the arms industry to improve interoperability between the two countries' militaries.
https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_vi ... 985&lang=e

ADMM Retreat and ADMM-Plus in Siem Reap Wrapped up Successfully 
AKP Phnom Penh, November 23, 2022 --

The 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and the 9th ADMM-Plus, a key platform for ASEAN military leaders to discuss regional peace and security were successfully concluded on Nov. 23 after three days of meetings.

Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the National Defence shared the success at a press conference in Siem Reap provincial city this afternoon. 

Samdech Tea Banh said that in the retreat meeting, the ASEAN defence ministers approved the participation of Canada, France, and the UK in the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group (EWG) Observership Programme and welcomed the commencement of the programme next year. 

Then, he added, all military leaders discussed the ADMM's progress, and exchanged views on the regional and global security environment, and on future areas of cooperation for the ADMM and ADMM-Plus. 

In the ASEAN-U.S. Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, and ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting, all sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and the U.S. and between ASEAN and India on maritime security and peace in the region, he pointed out. 

At the end of the meetings, Samdech Tea Banh handed over the ADMM chairmanship to Indonesian Defence Minister H.E. Prabowo Subianto.

ADMM and ADMM-Plus provide a good opportunity for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States –to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
- AKP

Canada Pledges to Help ASEAN in Mine and UXO Clearance
AKP Phnom Penh, November 25, 2022 --

Canada has pledged US$1 million for mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance activities in ASEAN region.

The pledge was made in a dialogue between ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and Canadian Parliament here in Phnom Penh on Nov. 23.

AIPA delegation was led by H.E. Khuth Chandara, Member of the National Assembly (NA) of Cambodia and the Canadian side by H.E. Yuen Pau Woo, Member of Senate of Canada.

Canada also provided Cambodia nearly US$1 million to support the organisation of women and security programmes when Cambodia hosted the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits from Nov. 8 to 13, 2022.

According to a press release of the NA's Secretariat General, the discussion will contribute significantly to promoting the relations and building a strong partnership.

It also gives way to negotiation on Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which will help increase opportunities, especially for the sustainable development and the post COVID-19 economic recovery.
The dialogue was themed "Investing in Peace, Sustainable Development and Post-COVID-19 Recovery".
By Lim Nary, AKP