PHNOM PENH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has highlighted energy security as a strategic priority for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to a foreign ministry press release issued Wednesday.
Sokhonn made the remarks on Tuesday during the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, the Philippines.
The minister "called for the accelerated operationalization of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement, the continued advancement of the ASEAN Power Grid, greater investment in renewable energy, and enhanced regional cooperation to ensure affordable, secure, and sustainable energy for the region."
During the meeting, Sokhonn underscored that the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape required ASEAN to deepen regional integration, strengthen strategic coordination, and reinforce community-building across its three pillars.
He also reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to a just, peaceful, and lasting resolution of disputes based on international law. ■
