- Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
- Samdech Maha Rathsaphea Thika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia & President of the 11th IPTP Plenary Session,
- Honorable Speakers of the House and Presidents of International Organizations,
- Distinguished Heads of Delegations, Esteemed Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is my great pleasure and honor to be with you all at the 11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) here in Phnom Penh to deliberate on such an important theme: “A Quest for Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance”. The gathering of this august body truly reflects the shared commitment of parliamentarians, politicians and relevant stakeholders from all peace-loving nations to building a world of peace, tolerance, harmony and prosperity.
As the world faces numerous challenges arising from traditional and non-traditional security threats that have posed serious concerns for global peace, stability, and development, hosting this event is a call to duty for Cambodia, and reaffirming our commitment to the aforementioned causes is a call to duty for all parliamentarians as well as relevant stakeholders. As Samdech Techo Hun Sen has wisely stated in the past, “Peace is the foundation on which all else is built. Without peace, there can be no development, no prosperity, and no future. Without peace, there is no human rights and no development as such.”
Cambodia’s historical journey to peace has transformed our nation in the most unimaginable ways, thanks to the visionary Win-Win Policy spearheaded by Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Not only did this noble policy end decades of conflict, but it also laid the groundwork for national reconciliation and an enduring stability to this day through its practical steps starting with dialogue, trust, compromise, and inclusivity.
I must say that the results are stunning. Our economy has consistently grown by more than 7 percent per year in recent decades before the pandemic. Development gains have reached even the most remote rural areas. And when we talk about economic growth, we are not referring to just textbook numbers, but we want to also refer to present day realities, as you all could witness, in terms of improvement of people’s livelihood and social wellbeing across the board. We are on track in effectively graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2029. Some key social indicators are real testament to our inclusive development. For instance, an increase in life expectancy from 59 years in 2000 to 76 years in 2021; the decrease of maternal mortality rate from 437 in 2000 to 154 in 2022 per 100,000 live births; and the drop of infant mortality rate from 37 in 2000 to 8 in 2022 per 1,000 live births.
Cambodia stands as a living proof of peace’s transformative power, and we are keen to share this journey of hope to inspire and impart our experience with other countries in their quest for peace and reconciliation.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cambodia values peace as the cornerstone of our national resilience and rejuvenation. Peace has allowed us to invest in our people, our institutions, and our future. Under my administration, I have launched a comprehensive framework for growth, employment, equity, efficiency and sustainability, entitled the “Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I.” This strategy focuses on five key priorities, namely People, Road, Water, Electricity and Technology. Through this strategy, we aim to protect and strengthen our hard-earned peace by creating opportunities for all citizens, and supporting communities to thrive together. Additionally, priority programs covering health, education, TVET program for vulnerable groups, promotion of agricultural productivity, and enlargement of social protection schemes, all aim to weave social cohesion, leaving no one behind, that is supportive of lasting peace and national resilience.
The “Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I” is both a development roadmap and a resilient peace-building framework that enhance quality of life, and modernization of industry and economy in an inclusive and sustainable manner. Its core principles resonate perfectly with the significance of the launch of the “Universal Peace Charter: For People and the Planet.”
This Universal Peace Charter, which is being tabled for adoption in this significant event, is a universal peace architecture aimed at strengthening global solidarity and partnerships for peace, tolerance, harmony, dignity and prosperity for humanity. It covers five key pillars, namely: (1) Conflict Prevention; (2) Peacebuilding Process and Good Offices; (3) Transitional Justice; (4) Post-conflict Reconstruction and Humanitarian and Disaster Response; and (5) Food Security and Sustainable Development in Response to Climate Change.
Here it is important that I highlight another extraordinary achievement that Cambodia has made in connecting peace, justice and tolerance. Delivery of justice during peacetime is equally important as the provision of justice in the post-conflict era.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) or the Khmer Rouge Tribunal had successfully concluded its criminal trial process to deliver justice to the dead and peace to the survivors. The tribunal has set international norms in terms of prosecution on genocide and crimes against humanity, and Cambodia has served as an example of how a nation can face her troubled past with dignity. Through this transitional justice mechanism, our societies can rely on a foundation for enduring peace and reconciliation without the possibility of revenge and relapse of conflict. Of important note, the high level of tolerance of Cambodians, and their strong resilient mentality cannot be overlooked, when considering how brother-enemies can still co-exist peacefully, and that national army can be united even with the integration of the former Khmer Rouge fighters. This is a painful experience for many survivors but for the sake of unity and harmony, people chose to let bygones be bygones because they knew that they were victims of wars that they did not create.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Our pursuit of peace must be proactive, and it must be a collective effort.
It is crucial that we mobilize greater participation of all states and non-state entities, including the private sector, private foundations, think tanks, and other civil society organizations. Their contributions are essential in promoting preventive diplomacy, trust-building and confidence-building measures and media integrity. Stimulating international cooperation in interfaith dialogue, trade, tourism, and people-to-people relations are as important as getting women and youth in all the spectra of peace, security and conflict prevention.
Moreover, we must work together to address non-traditional threats like food and nutritional insecurity and climate change related disasters, among others, which, if not tackled properly, can undermine peace, security and development. It is vital that the international community cooperate closely together on this food-water-energy security nexus. Similarly, we must harness the power of science, technology and innovation, including digital technologies, as key development resources to enable us to meet the targets of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant national development plans of our nations.
On this note, I look forward to seeing the Universal Peace Charter agenda moving ahead as a great catalyst to enhance synergy between governments, parliaments and civil society organizations to realize our vision of peace for humanity. I wish to take this opportunity to call on all nations and entities to join us to advance our shared commitment to make our world safe and prosperous for generations to come.
In closing, allow me to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt wishes for the success of this 11th Plenary Session of IPTP and may our discussions today inspire meaningful actions toward global peace and cooperation. May peace and development flourish across the world. I wish you all greater success in all your noble endeavors.
Thank You!
