Phnom penh: Cambodian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Prak Sokhonn stated that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains an indispensable platform for regional peace and stability, guided by its Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). According to Nam News Network, for nearly six decades, ASEAN has helped transform Southeast Asia from a region marked by division and uncertainty into one increasingly defined by dialogue, cooperation, and shared prosperity. Sokhonn conveyed this message in an official statement marking ASEAN's 59th anniversary. He noted that the region currently faces a volatile global climate, with resurging armed conflicts, intensifying geopolitical tensions, and mounting strain on international law and multilateralism. In this uncertain environment, ASEAN cannot afford to be passive. Sokhonn emphasized that ASEAN must actively shape change rather than merely respond to it, highlighting the importance of the bloc's unity and centrality in navigating modern geopolitical challenges. Sokhonn, also serving as a deputy prime minister, affirmed Cambodia's pride in its contributions to the region since joining ASEAN in 1999. He reiterated Cambodia's commitment to strengthening ASEAN's unity, resilience, and global relevance while strictly upholding the ASEAN Charter and the TAC in both principle and practice. Founded on August 8, 1967, ASEAN currently comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.