Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met in Phnom Penh with Secretary-General of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Dato Lim Jock Hoi.

"Ukraine and ASEAN are linked by traditional ties of friendship and mutual respect. Accession of our country to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) will create new political, economic and cultural opportunities for our states, businesses and citizens," the Minister said.

The Foreign Minister stressed that the intensification of cooperation with the ASEAN region, which is a powerful political and economic association of ten countries of Southeast Asia, is part of the Asian strategy developed by the MFA.

Dmytro Kuleba and Dato Lim Jock Hoi agreed on concrete steps to deepen cooperation between Ukraine and ASEAN in trade, digital transformation, agriculture and strengthening political dialogue and mutual support.

In particular, the parties will hold a series of political contacts and bilateral events to bring political and economic collaboration to a qualitatively new level: presentation of investment opportunities between Ukraine and ASEAN, a business forum for establishing direct business contacts, exchange of experience in the use of the Ukrainian digital platform NAZOVNI and the Asian Access system.

Dmytro Kuleba also called on ASEAN to demand from Russia to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which plays a key role in ensuring global food security.