Phnom Penh, – The 40th and 41st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summits and related summits, have started in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, on Friday.The summits are focusing on continuing community-building process, post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery, regional and global security challenges, among others.Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, urged the 10-member ASEAN countries to focus on the common goal of mutual development for peace, stability and betterment of the region.Hun Sen called for building the future of ASEAN as a united and rules-based community.He advocated for ASEAN to ensure an evolving regional architecture that would forge external partnerships based on mutual trust and respect for regional and global peace.More than 100 documents on the outcome of the summits would be adopted and noted during the meetings, and the ASEAN leaders would issue three statements, the prime minister stated.As the current socio-economic situation in ASEAN, as well as in the whole world remains fragile and divided, Hun Sen called for the right decisions, policies and realistic approaches to address the strategic challenges.Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN 2022, and the summits are scheduled for Nov. 11 to Nov. 13.Established in 1967, ASEAN has as members; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.Indonesia is the ASEAN chair for 2023. (Xinhua/NAN)