Cambodia tells university students to prepare for ASEAN community

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) - Cambodia organized a seminar on Thursday to promote ASEAN awareness to approximately 3,300 students from 26 universities and told them to prepare themselves for an ASEAN community.

Senior government figures at the seminar were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who represents Cambodia for the ASEAN security community, Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, who represents the country for the ASEAN economic community, and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron, who represents the country for the ASEAN socio-cultural community.

Hor Namhong said ASEAN is a regional organization that is more prestigious on the international arena and is playing critical roles in terms of politics and economy.

The bloc determines Dec. 31, 2015 for the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community, which will be a region of free flows of goods, services, skilled labor, capital and investment, he said.

"There will be both opportunities and challenges for Cambodia when ASEAN becomes a community at the end of next year," Hor Namhong said. "Therefore, it is essential for all of you to prepare yourselves for the ASEAN community."

He said the challenges Cambodia faces include human resources, lack of skilled labor, socio-economic development, and connectivity.

ASEAN was founded in 1967 in Thailand, and Cambodia joined the bloc in 1999.