Cambodia ready to work with US within Mekong River frameworks: official
Cambodian Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn said on August 3 that Cambodia will cooperate with the US within the Mekong River connectivity frameworks.
Cambodian Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –Cambodian Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and InternationalCooperation Prak Sokhonn said on August 3 that Cambodia will cooperate with theUS within the Mekong River connectivity frameworks.
Co-chairing the 2nd Mekong-US Partnership Ministerial Meeting (MUSP) via videoconference with US Secretary of StateAntony Blinken, Prak Sokhonn confirmed that Cambodia is ready to continue jointefforts to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, address common challenges including but notlimited to climate change and transnational crimes, and effectively promotesocio-economic recovery, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairsand International Cooperation.
He noted that the Mekongsub-region, covering Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, has atotal population of 240 million, 40 percent of whom are under the age of 25,making it an attractive hub for the light manufacturing industry and furtherintegration into the global supply chain. The US exports about 26 billion USDin goods and services to the Mekong sub-region and in turn imports about 89.94billion USD worth of products.
Cambodia hopes to see moreprivate sector investment in tourism, small and medium enterprises, and otherpriority sectors in the country, with the support from the US and its allies toboost economic growth during and after the pandemic, the official said.
He also expressed his supportfor the initiative for Gender Equality Policy Dialogue, which focuses on women’seconomic empowerment, focusing on post-COVID-19 recovery and climate crisis; women’speace and security, focusing on women’s leadership; and preventing andresponding to gender-based violence, with the hope that these programmes willprovide effective input and recommendations on how to empower women andcontribute to social progress.
Cambodia, through theMinistry of Women’s Affairs, is ready to work with the US and other members toachieve this common goal, the official added./.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has underlined four groups of solutions to boost post-pandemic economic recovery and development in the Mekong sub-region, including the prompt implementation of COVID-19 vaccination, stronger cooperation in high-quality vaccine technology transfer, production and distribution and the enhancement of public health system to respond to medical challenges.
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Cambodian Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn (Photo: VNA) 
