Phnom Penh, May 27, 2019 –The Win-Win Policy, which put an end to the over-30-year-long civil war in Cambodia, was set forth without any external order or assistance.
“The Kingdom of Cambodia has enjoyed peace and reconciliation for the first time in the history in late 1998. The war, which lasted more than 30 years, ended when the Khmer Rouge defected and joined the legitimate government. This is the result of the Win-Win Policy, which were laid out by ourselves without any external order or assistance,” said the Cambodian Premier, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen at the 75th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand this morning.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the Win-Win Policy comprises of three key components: Ensuring everyone with the right to life; Ensuring everyone with jobs and careers for decent livings; and Ensuring the protection of all their assets. As a result of the Win-Win Policy, he added, the war and armed conflicts were completely ended; and Cambodia could resolve all kinds of problems based on the trust developed between Khmer and Khmer, which is the factor bringing about peace that has deeply rooted in the society for over the last 20 years.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen also laid stress on the significance of peace, saying that it is the main and the most important prerequisite for building economic foundation and social development. On this basis, Cambodia has achieved a strong economic growth at the rate of 7.7 percent per annum over the last two decades and has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and graduated from low income country to lower-middle income country in 2015. The poverty rate in Cambodia has continued to decline from 53 percent in 2004 to 13.5 percent in 2014 and recently estimated to be around 10 percent. Health and education have made remarkable achievement even though there are some remaining issues that the government needs to address.
With this tremendous achievement, Cambodia has ambition to grab the national pride by transforming herself to become upper-middle income country in 2030 and high income country in 2050, underlined Samdech Techo Prime Minister.
By C. Nika
