Cambodia: People-oriented policies and remarkable results

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	Cambodia records major socio-economic achievements
	Ambassador highlights good results in Vietnam-Cambodia economic ties

The five-year parliamentary term is not long, but what the CPP can do for the people of Cambodia is great. This helps the Cambodian people’s confidence in the upcoming elections.

Peace and solidarity are the foundations for stability and development

Maintaining peace, political stability and solid security have ensured that Cambodia continues to mark new achievements in the process of economic and social development and the improvement of people's lives. The CPP has reached an important milestone, bringing Cambodia from a low-income country to a low-middle-income country, and is striving to become a high-middle-income country by 2030.

This clearly reflects the success of the implementation of the Political Platform and the Quadrangle Strategy Period 3 of the 5th term Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, receiving the support and trust of people.

This victory was first gained by the CPP under the leadership of PM Hun Sen, strengthening the solidarity of the whole nation, adhering to the Constitution, protecting the regime of the Monarchy; promoting democracy, multi-party freedom; ensuring respect for human rights, as well as compliance with laws and social justice. This has continued to be included in the CPP’s political platform campaign in the period 2018-2023.

Over the past five years, under the CPP’s leadership, the Kingdom of Cambodia’s economy has grown rapidly, maintaining high growth in a sustainable manner, averaging 7.7 percent in the last two decades and surviving the 2008 crisis. Thus, the World Bank ranks Cambodia highly for the country’s growth record and as a new economic tiger in Asia. This steady growth is reflected in areas such as industry, textiles, construction, agriculture and services like tourism and real estate. Notably, Cambodia is transforming its economic structure from an agriculture-based one into an industrial and service-based nation.

Every effort for sustainable development is aimed at the people. According to statistics, the living standards of the Cambodian people are improving, with per capita income rising from US$1,042 in 2013 to US$1,563 in 2018. The poverty rate has fallen dramatically, from 53.5% in 2004 to 13% in 2016, and will continue to decline. Additionally, the income gap has gradually decreased. Poverty reduction in 2015 was faster than the Millennium Development Goals, and the goal of reducing poverty by more than 1% per year.

In addition, due to its careful implementation of macroeconomic policies to keep the economy stable, while at the same time promoting and diversifying the economy, competitiveness, production and consumption domestically, Cambodia has managed many other encouraging achievements. In particular, foreign exchange reserves have increased from US$3.6 billion in 2013 to over US$9 billion in 2017, as foreign direct investment continues to grow. The balance of payments is improving, while Cambodia's public debt is at the lowest rate in the region, reflecting the low risk and sustainability of its debt.

According to the DBA and World Bank forecasts, Cambodia's economy in the 2018-2019 period is expected to maintain an average growth of 7% per year. In the first four months of 2018, CPC attracted FDI of US$634 million with 47 new registered projects, while import-export turnover reached US$8.3 billion. The number of international tourists in the first 3 months of 2018 stood at 1.7 million, an increase of 1.9% compared with the same period last year (the figure for the whole of 2017 was 5.6 million).

Phnom Penh - Cambodia. (Photo: Dai doan ket)

Many policies are directed at people, especially poor people

Samdech Techo Hun Sen pointed out the reasons for the change in every part of the country: “The Royal Government has continuously proposed urgent measures to address all difficulties, concerns and expectations of people and their strong interest in improving the quality, efficiency and expansion of public services. At the same time, democracy and freedom of citizenship, as well as compliance with law enforcement is being continuously strengthened.”

In the new-term political platform campaign, the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has pledged many policies beneficial to people such as: No tax on agricultural land for farmers increasing agricultural production by nature, helping farmers expand agricultural production and find markets for agricultural products at reasonable prices. Landless people will receive land to build their homes and increase their production through the social land grant program.

Increasing monthly wages for employees, workers and other types of welfare benefits to improve the quality of work and occupational protection for employees and workers.

Increasing salaries for all civil servants and armed forces and increasing pensions for the retired and veterans.

Small businesses operating on land owned by the State can concurrently manage the use and inheritance of their children or other persons without limitation of tenure.

All young people will have the opportunity to receive vocational training and employment, and can be involved in all decisions at both central and local levels. Each district and ward will have a secondary school, and each hamlet will have a primary school. People are getting better and better health care at state health care centres and hospitals. The poor and the incapacitated are entitled to free medical examinations and treatment at state medical centres and hospitals.

Foreign policy supports national defense

Prior to global and regional developments, the Cambodian government maintained a neutral, non-aligned foreign policy, based on peaceful coexistence, non-interference in internal affairs of other countries, contributing positively to the protection of territorial integrity, sovereignty, neutrality, national interests and the development of the country. In that spirit, Cambodia has strengthened cooperation with its neighboring countries to accelerate the completion of planning, border demarcation, and transforming the demarcation of border areas with neighboring countries into peaceful, stable, friendly, cooperative and developed areas.

Cambodia continues its efforts to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the maintenance of peace, stability, security in the region and in the world, combating terrorism, transnational crime, promoting arms reduction and contributing to reducing the risk of climate change. Cambodia also continues to contribute peacekeepers to other countries within the framework of the UN peacekeeping force. In response to some countries’ interventions in Cambodia's internal affairs, Cambodia's foreign policy has been strengthened on the basis of domestic and international law.

Vietnam, Cambodia look at ways of boosting border trade Bilateral trade ties particularly through border have achieved remarkable progress, contributing to socio-economic development in both Vietnam and Cambodia as well as promoting the friendship ...

Vietnam, Cambodia discuss legal procedure for Vietnamese Cambodians An inter-sectoral meeting took place between Vietnamese and Cambodian agencies took place in Phnom Penh on April 23 to discuss the handling of legal residency ...

Vietnamese in Cambodia support Truong Sa soldiers, residents The General Association of Vietnamese-Cambodian People in Phnom Penh on April 12 raised nearly 1,800 USD to support soldiers and local residents in Vietnam’s Truong ...