Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to ASEAN Presents Letters of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN

JAKARTA, 12 January 2026 - Ambassador Noy Choumneanh presented his Letters of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at a Ceremony held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat today, marking the commencement of his tenure as the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to ASEAN.

Following the Ceremony, Ambassador Noy Choumneanh paid a courtesy call on Secretary-General Dr. Kao. During the meeting, the Secretary-General congratulated Ambassador Noy Choumneanh on his appointment and underscored the important role of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to ASEAN in supporting the work of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), particularly in advancing ASEAN Community-building, regional integration as well as ASEAN's cross-pillar coordination and relations with external partners. He further highlighted the Ambassador's longstanding and wide-ranging diplomatic experience in advancing ASEAN cooperation.

Secretary-General Dr. Kao expressed appreciation for Cambodia's continued contributions to ASEAN Community-building. He commended Cambodia's role as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-United States Dialogue Relations and expressed support for Cambodia's Chairmanship of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Task Force in 2026.

During the discussion, Ambassador Noy Choumneanh underscored Cambodia's high appreciation for the important role played by the Secretary-General of ASEAN in strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat and advancing ASEAN's Community-building efforts. He further commended the Secretary-General of ASEAN's leadership in enhancing the effectiveness, responsiveness, and relevance of the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as his tireless efforts in supporting ASEAN Member States in navigating an increasingly complex regional and global environment.

Ambassador Noy Choumneanh expressed appreciation for the ASEAN Secretariat's continued dedication and professional support to ASEAN Member States, noting its indispensable role in ensuring coherence, continuity, and effective implementation of ASEAN decisions and initiatives. He further reaffirmed Cambodia's continued commitment to ASEAN and its alignment of national priorities with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, and continues to work closely with fellow ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat to translate ASEAN's shared vision into concrete and meaningful outcomes.

Ambassador Noy Choumneanh and Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn affirmed their shared commitment to working closely together, including through the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), to further strengthen cooperation between Cambodia and ASEAN. Both sides underscored the importance of enhanced coordination between the CPR and the ASEAN Secretariat in advancing ASEAN's collective goals and aspirations, especially as articulated in ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.