New Cambodian ASEAN sec-gen gets China support

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang yesterday congratulated new ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn and expressed China’s commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting economic growth.

Qin said China looked forward to strengthening the Sino-ASEAN relationship in his congratulatory message to Kim Hourn on his inauguration as secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“I look forward to having a good working relationship with Secretary-General Kao,” said Qin, adding that both sides will focus on building the “five homelands” of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and friendship, deepening China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, and promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Qin noted that ASEAN is an important regional organisation and has long been committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, promoting economic growth, social progress and cultural development, and promoting regional cooperation.

Kim Hourn, a two-term Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister Hun Sen and the first Cambodian to take the distinguished ASEAN secretary-general post, replaced Lim Jock Hoi, a Brunei national and was sworn in by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on January 9.

Kim Hourn’s appointment is certain to raise Cambodia’s profile in the South East Asian bloc and on the international stage.

Kim Hourn is the 15th Secretary-General of ASEAN, a position that has a five-year tenure. Previous secretaries-general were from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines. Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. Kim Hourn will serve from 2023 to 2027.

Kim Hourn was born in Cambodia and educated in the United States. Over the years, he has attended many national, regional and international meetings. As a scholar and a diplomat, he has made various contributions to both Cambodia and ASEAN.

Kim Hourn received his PhD of Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, US.

He has served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is also the President and Founder of the University of Cambodia.

He worked as executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, a foreign policy think tank from 1994 to 2004.

In 2013, Kim Hourn was appointed Minister Delegate attached to PM Hun Sen.