PHNOM PENH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Saturday that under his party's leadership, over the past 38 years, the country had moved from a nation of chronic war to a land of peace, stability and development.
Hun Sen, who is also the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), made the remarks during the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the Liberation Day here, attended by some 12,000 party members as well as foreign diplomats to Cambodia.
"Today is a great event that the people of Cambodia in the whole country are happy celebrating the 38th anniversary of the glorious victory with great pride on numerous major historic achievements scored over the past 38 years," he said.
"Cambodia, where before was a killing field, insecurity, mine-fields, has become a land of peace and a popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia," he added.
The prime minister said that the country had enjoyed high economic growth at an average of 7.7 percent per annum in the last two decades, as poverty rate had declined to 11.5 percent in 2015 from 53.2 percent in 2004.
He added that Cambodia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita reached 1,300 U.S. dollars in 2016 from merely 760 U.S. dollars in 2008, making Cambodia exit its status of a low-income country to a lower-middle income country.
Hun Sen said the CPP would continue to carry out its political platform to realize further achievements, while driving for the implementation of policies and measures aimed at improving and raising high living condition of the people.
"I have strong belief that our compatriots from every corner of the country will continue to support the leadership of the Cambodian People's Party to realize entirely our compatriots' aspiration, which is to build Cambodia into a country of independence, peace, freedom, democracy, neutrality, and social progress," he said.
