On December 19, Malaysia's Asia Pacific Strategic Research presented the "Lifetime Achievement Award of Outstanding World Leaders" to Prince Hun Sen, the Chairman in Office of ASEAN and Prime Minister of Cambodia in 2022, at the Peace Building of the Cambodian Prime Minister's Office. Hun Sen said at the award ceremony that maintaining ASEAN's prestige on the international stage cannot be separated from the participation and support of ASEAN dialogue partners, especially China, the world's second largest economy. He highly appreciated China's perseverance in maintaining the central position of ASEAN and called on ASEAN and China to constantly strengthen cooperation in various fields. Hun Sen said that over the past 30 years, China ASEAN cooperation has steadily improved. In 2021, China and ASEAN will establish a comprehensive strategic partnership, which is now moving towards the "China ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0". China is the largest trading partner of ASEAN. In 2021, the total trade volume between ASEAN and China will increase to 669 billion US dollars, up 28% year on year; China's direct investment (FDI) in the ten ASEAN countries reached 136 billion US dollars, nearly doubling compared with 2020. According to the assessment and forecast of the ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) in October this year, the ASEAN region will achieve an economic growth rate of 5.3% and 4.9% in 2022 and 2023, respectively, which is at a higher level compared with other regions. Hun Sen stressed that under the bilateral framework, ASEAN China cooperation in political, economic, social and other fields has been deepening, high-level visits between the two sides have been frequent, cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and other fields has been expanding, and people to people and cultural exchanges have been increasing. In particular, Cambodia China relations have reached the level of "iron friends". The bilateral trade volume between China and Cambodia will increase to about 11 billion US dollars in 2021, up 37% year on year. China has provided a large amount of assistance and support to Cambodia in various fields, especially in the most difficult period when the COVID-19 was raging. China's help has effectively improved Cambodia's ability to cope with the crisis and significantly reduced the impact of the epidemic on Cambodia's economy and society. With regard to the continued COVID-19, intense geopolitical competition, the rise of global protectionism, increased uncertainty about the world economic outlook, the destruction of the global industrial chain supply chain, climate change and other global challenges, Hun Sen said that China's development is a miracle, which not only benefits the Chinese people, but also has brought many positive impacts to ASEAN and Cambodia in economic, social and geopolitical aspects. Against the backdrop of many uncertainties and risk challenges facing the world, he hoped that ASEAN and China would continue to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, strive to build the "China ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0", open a new chapter in China ASEAN cooperation, and provide greater potential and vitality for further strengthening China ASEAN bilateral relations and mutual cooperation. Hun Sen also stressed that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) is one of the outstanding examples of an open, inclusive and rule-based trading system, which reflects the real commitment to strengthening regional cooperation. ASEAN and China should work together to further promote regional cooperation that is open, transparent, inclusive, complementary and mutually beneficial. ASEAN and China must attach great importance to deepening cooperation in various fields, especially to accelerating the process of economic and social integration