By Kun Sombor

Prime Minister Hun Manet is the youngest of all 10 leaders currently attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Indonesia, replicating his father, Hun Sen, who was the youngest leader to attend the Summit in the Philippines in 1999.

Cambodia’s new Prime Minister is in Indonesia to represent Cambodia at the annual Summit, which started today in Jakarta. This is the first time that Hun Manet, 45, has taken to the international stage in his new role as Cambodian premier.

According to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s office, “This presence is the same as Samdech Hun Sen’s presence at the first ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines, on November 28, 1999, as the youngest leader among other leaders at the age of 47-years-old at that time.”

Hun Manet, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, is attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. Kiripost/supplied

Hun Sen attended ASEAN Informal Summit in Manila, Philippines in 1999. Kiripost/supplied

The statement added, “Not different from Samdech Techo, Prime Minister Hun Manet is the oldest son at the age of 45-years-old and has led the delegations to attend the ASEAN Summit in 2023, and become the youngest leader among 10 ASEAN leaders.”

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Under Hun Sen, Cambodia officially became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on April 30, 1999 in Hanoi, Vietnam. This means the nation has worked alongside other ASEAN countries for 24 years.

“ASEAN has become a core of foreign policy in Cambodia that is shown by linking the political, social, and economical development of Cambodia towards regional integration and international cooperation,” the statement said.

“Being one of ASEAN’s members is a success of Cambodian diplomacy under Samdech Hun Sen’s leadership to expand and enhance the role of Cambodia to be more active on both the local and international stage.”

On November 28, 1999, Hun Sen joined the ASEAN Summit for the first time in Manila, the Philippines. He went on to become one of the longest-serving leaders in the world until handing over power to his son in August, and was ASEAN leader in 2002, 2012, and 2022.

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Kun Sambor is an assistant member to Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia.