- Your Excellency Kitti Sangaha Bindit KHUON Sudary, President of the National Assembly;
- Your Excellency Kitti Setha Bindit CHEAM Yeap, First Vice President of the National Assembly,
- Your Excellency VONG Soth, Second Vice President of the National Assembly:
- Samlech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN Sen;
- Samdech Chaufea Veang KONG Sam Ol;
- Samdech Krolalom SAR Kheng
- Samdech Pichey Sena TEA Bank;
- Samdech Kittisangaha Bindit MEN Sam An;
- Samdech, Prince, Excellencies, Members of the National Assembly!
Today marks a historical moment for the Kingdom of Cambodia, as the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly holds its plenary session to elect leaders of the National Assembly, and to cast the vote of confidence for members of the Royal Government of Cambodia of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly.
As the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia who has just received the vote of confidence from the National Assembly, I would like to extend my warmest gratitude and appreciation to the revered His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, for always supporting and encouraging the Royal Government of Cambodia.
This is indeed the wisdom and judicious examples set forth by the most revered “Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh”, His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK, Heroic King, Father of Independence, Territorial Integrity and Unity of the Khmer Nation, and Her Majesty Samdech Preah Maha Ksatrei Norodom MONINEATH SIHANOUK, Cambodian Queen-Mother with Freedom, Dignity and Happiness.
Representing the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to wish the revered His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as Her Majesty Samdech Preah Maha Ksatrei Norodom MONINEATH SIHANOUK, Cambodian Queen- Mother with Freedom, Dignity and Happiness good health, strength, intelligent, and longevity, to stay as forever-serene shade for every Cambodian.
I would also like to express my warmest appreciation to Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HENG SAMRIN who has effectively and successfully filled the role of the most Senior National Assembly’s Member. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Samdech, Prince, and Excellencies, the leaders and members of this splendid legislative body, for having casted your vote of confidence for the Royal Government of Cambodia of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly, of which I lead.
In addition, on behalf of myself and my colleagues who are members of the Royal Government of Cambodia of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly, I would like to take this rare opportunity to express my sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, President of the Cambodian People’s Party, as well as Samdech, Excellencies leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party, for having confidence in us and for entrusting us with this fateful mission to serve our nation, to respond to the needs and wishes of our Cambodian people, and to return their unwavering supports for the Cambodian People’s Party’s leadership and policies. Indeed, your invaluable sacrifice and efforts, both in terms of strength, mental fortitude, intellect and spirit to rescue our nation and people from the atrocious genocide; your strives to protect our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; your commitment to bring peace, national unity and reconciliation; your pledge to protect our people’s lives and livelihood; as well as your relentless efforts to develop our motherland are all heroic examples that we, as the future generation, must follow. Undoubtedly, the bright wisdom, diverse experiences, pragmatism, and the levels of adeptness, intelligence and savviness that Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN and Samdech, Excellencies Leaders have displayed through leading our nation is a Mastery of the Art of Leadership; the one that we as the future generation can only aspire to. Nevertheless, the heroic examples and the ability to lead we have witnessed, and the confidence we have gained will be the permanent fixtures within our consciences and consciousness. They will constantly sharpen and strengthen our willingness and commitment to strive to our utmost abilities, and to use our youthful energy, knowledge and skills to fulfill this mission, just as what our Cambodian people have wished and mandated.
- Samdech, Prince, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
The recent election on July 23, 2023 was free, fair, just and transparent with more than 8.2 million people voted, which was about 84.59% of the population on the NEC’s voter list, of those who voted, 82.3% supported the CPP. Indeed, this is a high turnout rate compared to other elections in recent history, both for Cambodia itself and for many other countries around the world. This high turnout rate underscores the strong will of most Cambodian people who exercised their Constitution’s civil rights to entrust their country to political parties and leaders to lead along the path of democracy and the rule of law. This is also a clear testimony, highlighting our nation’s peace-loving spirit that firmly supports the principles of liberal democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law, as stated in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia. This also reflects the outright rejection of most Cambodian people against the brazen acts that tried luring their country away from the path of democracy and the rule of law, as well as any treacherous attempts to incite, provoke and instigate their contempt which endanger their nation.
In addition, the result of the 23rd July election reflects the strong will and overwhelming supports of our citizens to see their country being led toward progressiveness and prosperity, through the path of peace, development and reform in all sectors. In this regard, the Royal Government of Cambodia of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly is obligated to be relentlessly and energetically committed to fulfilling this historic mission of accelerating development and pushing for deeper and broader reforms. In this spirit, the Royal Government of Cambodia has put forth its “Political Platform” based on the Cambodian People’s Party’s “Political Platform for Nation Building and Defense 2023-2028”, that has been announced for supports during the July election. Hence, on this special occasion, I would like to respectfully submit to the National Assembly the “Political Platform of the Royal Government of Cambodia of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly” in writing, and request permission to record this important document in the official Minutes of the plenary session of the National Assembly, upon your kind approval.
The content of the “Political Platform” of the Royal Government of Cambodia, which is being presented to the National Assembly, and through the National Assembly, to the people and the general public, reflects the Royal Government of Cambodia’s aspiration, ideals and its strong determination to serve the nation and its people at all circumstances. It also clearly illustrates the Royal Government of Cambodia’s visions and policies to protect and build our motherland toward a glorious future, just as what our people aspired. In general, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the Five Guarantees from the Royal Government of Cambodia to all our compatriots, through the implementation of the “Political Platform” as we embark on the next journey of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly, which are:
1. Ensuring the absolute protection of peace, stability, security and safety for the well-being of the people; as well as the protection of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity so that no one can infringe or sabotage it.
2. Ensuring socio-economic development across all sectors by focusing on: governance reform through moulding our public institutions into ones that are highly capable, strong, smart and clean, while the rule of law, social justice as well as the efficiency and quality of public services are strengthened; strengthening a stable macroeconomic environment that is resilient to crises while supporting high growth with sustainability, inclusiveness and integrity; continuing to prioritize human capital investment, especially through reforms in education and health sectors; promoting and increasing investment, both from public and private sectors, in necessary hard and soft infrastructures that will help attracting and supporting more economic activities while serving the people’s needs; paying attention to the development of informal economy, as well as the formation of a conducive environment for micro, small and medium enterprises, and startups to grow; promoting public-private partnerships; deepening and strengthening financial resilience, as well as expanding financial inclusiveness that aims to promote economic activities and investment through refining financing frameworks and mechanisms, as well as financial products and services’ diversification; and promoting digital transformation both in terms of social and economic development, etc.
3- Ensuring improvement of people’s livelihood by providing youth with high quality education and vocational training, as well as job opportunities; assisting farmers in expanding their production and helping them find markets to sell their agricultural products at reasonable price; continuing to raise minimum wage and other benefits along with better-improved working conditions and career protection; continuing to raise the minimum wage and pensions for all public servants, retirees and veterans, as well as developing a more efficient and comprehensive public sector’s payroll and incentive system that are based on meritocracy and aligned with the promotion of productivity, performance and livelihood of public servants, economic growth and the availability of national budget.
4- Ensuring social security and stability in people’s livelihood now and in the future by developing and strengthening a social protection system that includes effective and sustainable social assistance and social security systems to protect everyone, especially those from poor households, vulnerable groups and at-risk households, from crises and emergencies without leaving anyone unattended.
5- Ensuring more attentions to sustainable socio-economic development and building resilience to climate change by making the best use of demographic dividends and the strengthening Cambodia’s demographic resilience; promoting gender equality; sustainably managing natural resources; increasing sustainable financing that promotes green investment and economy; promoting climate-resilient and low-carbon public investment; and ensuring environmental sustainability, as well as the readiness to respond to climate change.
At the same time, as the Head of the Royal Government of Cambodia for the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly, I would also like to solemnly pledge and commit to all compatriots that I will lead our nation’s Executive Institution resolutely, and ensure that this “Political Platform of the Royal Government” will be successfully implemented, as this is what the Cambodian People’s Party promised before the election. Additionally, I will give high attentions to the implementation of the Six Priority Policy Programs that will be launched immediately in 2023, which include:
(1)- Expanding healthcare services towards achieving the universal health coverage;
(2)- Providing vocational and technical trainings for youth from poor and vulnerable households across the nation;
(3) Institutionalizing the national social assistance program for poor households, vulnerable people from poor households, and at-risk households during economic crises and emergencies.
(4) Formulating and accelerating the implementation of the Informal Economy Development Strategy to enable them to participate in the formal economy, and to grasp the benefits from formal social protection system;
(5)- Introducing coordinating mechanism and financing program that enhance agricultural products’ production, market access, and price stability at a reasonable level; and
(6) Deploying agricultural technical officers to all communes and Sangkats that have agricultural activities across the nation and forming farmers associations in rural areas.
- Samdech, Prince, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!
On behalf of the Royal Government, I would like to call on to the entire National Assembly, and through the National Assembly, to all compatriots, both inside and outside the country, and to the officials at all levels in the ministries and institutions of the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, Armed Forces of all kinds, and Sub-National Institutions at all levels, as well as, all partners and development stakeholders, including bilateral and multilateral partners, the private sector, and nongovernment organizations, to fully support and actively contribute to the implementation of this “Political Platform”, and to make this evolve into a strong and dynamic collective movement that bring out fruitful success to our Cambodian people. In this regard, the Royal Government will launch and strive to successfully implementing the “Pentagonal Strategy Phase I 2023-2028”, which is the “Socio- Economic Policy Agenda” of this “Political Program” for the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly.
Once again, the Royal Government expresses its deepest respect and gratitude to all compatriots from everywhere, for having witnessed the actuality of our nation’s revival and progress, and for having given their unwavering faith and support to the government led by the Cambodian People’s Party. With such support, the Royal Government is committed to rally all efforts to successfully carry out this historic mission of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly toward great success.
To the end, I would like to wish Samdech, Excellencies, President and Vice President of the National Assembly, as well as all members of the National Assembly the four gems of blessings of the Buddhist; Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength and as well as continued success in all your endeavours to serve our nation and motherland.
Thank you!
