Cambodian People’s Party marks founding anniversary hinh anh 1 Cambodian Prime Minister and CPP President Hun Sen speaks at the ceremony (Source: AFP/​VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) held a ceremony on Koh Pich island in Phnom Penh on June 28 to mark its 66th founding anniversary (June 28, 1951).

The event brought together about 2,000 CPP members and residents from Phnom Penh and its neighbouring provinces.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Thach Du attended the ceremony and presented a basket of flowers from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Cambodian Prime Minister and CPP President Hun Sen and National Assembly President and CPP Honourary President Heng Samrin.

In his remarks, Hun Sen affirmed that the CPP stands side by side with Cambodian people in any circumstances and strives to overcome all obstacles for a Cambodia of independence, peace, freedom, democracy, neutrality and social development.

He discussed when Cambodia was under the genocidal Pol Pot regime, saying the CPP was the only political force to lead the Cambodian people to overthrow the regime on January 7, 1979.

Since then, the CPP has taken the lead in national defence and restoration while preventing the Pol Pot from coming back, he said, adding that the party also sought negotiations, aiming to end the prolonged civil war.

Hun Sen also stressed the CPP’s significant role in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, which brought an end to decades of conflict and violence in Cambodia, the 1993 Constitution and present Cambodia.

Cambodia has experienced great changes, particularly in economy and social affairs, he said, noting that Cambodia has escaped from the status of a low-income country to become a middle-income earner and is aiming towards high middle-income status in 2030.

The CPP leader also highlighted Cambodia’s engagement in international issues.

Cambodia is no longer a country admitting UN peacekeeping forces, he said, adding that the country now sends troops to UN peacekeeping operations.

Hun Sen also talked about the CPP’s victory in communal elections which took place earlier this month, which, he said, demonstrates the Party’s role in protecting peace, political stability and development in Cambodia.

With the victory, the CPP is likely to win the senate election slated for early 2018 and the parliamentary election scheduled for July 2018, he said.

Hun Sen used this occasion to thank foreign countries and international organisations for their valuable support to the party over the years.-VNA 
VNA