CAMBODIA has postponed the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) scheduled for early June due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the political forum's biennial summit will be postponed to later this year, possibly in late October or November.
"The postponement is to ensure not only the safety of ASEM leaders attending the summit but also their meaningful interactions as well as a frank and constructive exchange of views on regional and global issues of common interest that can only be done in a physical setting," the statement said.
The ASEM13 summit had initially been scheduled to be held on November 16 and 17, 2020, in Phnom Penh, but in July last year, the government postponed it to mid-2021 due to the pandemic.
Cambodia is also currently battling an outbreak of the coronavirus in the capital Phnom Penh.
The Khmer Times said that ASEM senior officials approved the summit postponement during a retreat meeting via videoconference on March 1 and 2, that was chaired by Foreign Affairs secretary of state Luy David.
"The retreat unanimously supported Cambodia rescheduling the ASEM13 to the last quarter of 2021 due to the unabated risks posed by Covid-19," the statement said.
The retreat also endorsed Cambodia's initiative on the Asia-Europe Forum on Women, Peace, and Security (ASEF) to be held regularly as one of the side events of ASEM Summits with the objective of streamlining women's vital roles in the development, conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts.
The retreat recognised the role of ASEF in coordinating with Cambodia to organise the side events of the ASEM13 and enhancing ASEM's relevance and visibility.
ASEM is an intergovernmental process established in 1996 to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.
It addresses political, economic, financial, social, cultural and educational issues of common interest in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.
It's most important event is the ASEM Summit, a biennial meeting between the heads of state and government, the president of the European Council, the president of the European Commission, and the secretary-general of Asean.
In addition, ASEM ministers and senior officials also meet in their respective sectoral dialogues.
The initial ASEM partnership in 1996 consisted of 15 EU Member States, seven Asean Member States, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Commission.
Today, ASEM comprises 53 partners - 30 European and 21 Asian countries, the European Union and the Asean secretariat.