A grand ceremony was held in Phnom Penh on December 2 to mark the 36th founding anniversary of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland (SFDCM).

Addressing the event, National Assembly Speaker President and Chairman of the SFDCM National Council Heng Samrin recalled the history of the front and its development over the past 36 years.

The front, formerly known as the Cambodian Front for National Salvation, was founded on December 2, 1978 in Snoul district, Kratie province, which borders Vietnam’s southern province of Binh Phuoc.

Under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, the front encourage people to form a great unity bloc which was benefited from vast support from Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to win a victory against the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.

The victory was the beginning of a new life for Cambodian people and opened a new page in the country’s history, he noted.

He also hailed the achievements the country has reaped in recent years, with an economic growth of 7.5 percent in 2013 and an estimated 7.6 percent for this year.

On the occasion, President Heng Samrin called on all Cambodian people to unite with the Royal Government to uphold the national tradition and build a prosperous country.-VNA