Tokyo/Phnom Penh, 2 February 2022: HE Dr Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and Vice-chairman of the Supreme National Economic Council (SNEC), held an online courtesy meeting with Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). The discussion focused on the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community Pillar’s priorities during the Kingdom of Cambodia’s year as Chair of ASEAN. HE Dr Hang Chuon Naron is Cambodia’s lead for the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community Pillar.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a rich discussion about projects prioritised under the ASCC for 2022, as developed by the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, as well as the MoEYS. This high-level meeting allowed for a sharing of opinions about the context of proposed projects, with project leads from Cambodia and ERIA experts contributing to the discussion. During the courtesy meeting between the Minister and Prof Nishimura, the President of ERIA offered ERIA’s fulsome support to the Minister to achieve the agreed priorities.

ERIA is an international organisation based in Jakarta, mandated by the East Asia Summit to support the chair of the ASEAN. In addition to supporting the ASCC Pillar, ERIA has offered to support the ASEAN Economic Community Pillar’s deliverables.