The Most Respected His Majesty NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia
Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim, President of the Senate,
Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly,
Excellencies Senators, Members of the National Assembly, Members of the Royal Government of Cambodia,
Excellencies, Ambassadors to the Kingdom of Cambodia and Distinguished International Guests,
Beloved Compatriots,
At this auspicious commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the National Independence Day and the founding of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, on behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Thama Pothisal Chea Sim, President of the Senate and Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly and personally, I would like to share the joy with all the Cambodian people, especially the people in Phnom Penh, of commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Ninth of November National Independence Day and the anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces marking the historic declaration of Cambodia’s full independence claimed from the French Protectorate in 1953, a magnificent result made by the royal crusade and noble mission of His Late Majesty NORODOM SIHANOUK, the Great Heroic King, King-Father of Khmer Independence, Territorial Integrity and National Unity.
Our incalculable indebtedness to His Late Majesty NORODOM SINANOUK, especially for the incomparable compassion for the people, mental and physical sacrifice for the cause of national independence, territorial integrity, social happiness and prosperity will remain on our hearts and on our minds. His Late Majesty founded the Sangkom Reastr Niyom (People’s Socialist Community) and paved the way for peace, solidarity and development for the whole Cambodian society, a path which has been firmly followed by all the Cambodian people ever since. Our incalculable indebtedness to the late King will never be forgotten and will be recorded in the history of Cambodia.
I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the most revered Her Majesty Queen-Mother NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK, Cambodia’s Mother of Freedom, Dignity and Happiness for caring for and supporting the most revered His Late Majesty NORODOM SIHANOUK “PREAH BOROM RATANAK KAUDH” to serve the nation and the people during his lifetime.
At the same time, I would like to express my deepest respect and loyalties to the most revered His Majesty Preah Karuna Chea Os Mchas Chivit Leur Tbong, King of Cambodia who follow through the noble path previously taken by the Great Heroic King, King-Father of Cambodia for fully supporting the Royal Government in its pursuit of national peace, stability, solidarity, social progress, improved living standard, people’s welfare and social harmony.
This provides a strong foundation for the Royal Government to further strive for further achievements in all areas to profoundly improve the national image on the international stage. Cambodia, which used to be politically and economically isolated, is now actively integrating itself into the regional and global structure and architecture and participating in regional and global affairs on equal footing with other countries. Cambodia, which used to suffer from poverty and food insecurity, is now a food exporting country, ranked 11th in the world in terms of economic growth during the last 10 years, ranked 5th among developing countries in terms of achieving the Millennium Development Goals and ranked 1st in Asia Pacific in terms of improving social indicators. All these progresses further propel Cambodia’s economic growth in the future to become an upper-middle income country by 2030 and a developed country by 2050. In fact, during past few years the Royal Government has maintained a stable macroeconomic condition conducive to development. Economic growth stood at 7.3% while per capita income reached USD 973 in 2012. This year, economic growth is expected to reach 7.6% along with GDP per capita of USD 1036.
However we must acknowledge although Cambodia has achieved full independence, peace and favorable environment for economic growth, we still face challenges ahead, especially the need to ensure long-term continuity of development, equitable distribution of the fruits of growth, and assurance of the effectiveness of public institutions. Furthermore, Cambodia needs to be well-prepared for the full integration into regional and global communities, especially ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, that allow us to march forward together toward shared prosperity and progress in accordance with the motto “One Community-One Destiny”. This will be a new assignment for us on top of the need to maintain independence and peace and expand development.
Along with the commeration of the 60th Annivesary of National Independence Day, today we also commemorate the 60th anniversary of the brave Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, founded by His Majesty NORODOM SIHANOUK, the Great Heroic King, King-Father of Khmer Independence, Territorial Integrity and National Unity. Since its establishment, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have been bravely protecting peace, national integrity, and happiness of the people as well as temples, priceless heritage left by our ancestors, from aggression. Truly, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have been improved remarkably. In fact, 20 years ago Cambodia received the UN Blue Berets on their peacekeeping mission in this country. Nowadays, Cambodia sends its forces to take part in UN peacekeeping missions in a number of countries that are hot spots in the world and has been praised by the UN’s Secretary General.
Based on this foundation, the Royal Government is firmly committed to further upgrading the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to be more advanced in line with economic progress and national needs, be loyal to the nation, love the people, and be capable of protecting independence, peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity and every national achievement, as well as participating in the process of national development.
Taking this auspicious opportunity, I would like express my heartfelt feelings with deepest gratitude and indebtedness to our brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our Nation, Religion, and King. The long lasting stability of our beloved territory and full independence we have achieved now cannot happen without the sacrifice of flesh and blood of our brave fighters. I would like to express my deepest admiration and regards to all military personnel of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who have fully supported policies of the Royal Government and follow the Constitution as well as laws, regulations and orders to become well-disciplined forces with dignity and prestige living up to the name as Khmer children.
At the same time, I would also like to express my humble appreciation all police officers of the General Commissariat of the National Police of the Ministry of Interior, who have actively participated in protecting the nation, national security and the social public order as well as happiness of the people by overcoming all kinds of hardship and obstacles coupled with priceless sacrifice.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to convey my respect and gratitude to all our beloved compatriots who have allowed their children, husbands/wives and relatives to serve in all branches of armed forces in order to protect the nation for all generations, and I would like to convey my regards with deepest respect and gratitude to all soldier families, including the families of deceased, disabled and demobilized soldiers.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank fellow compatriots for fully supporting the Royal Government in protecting the nation for the cause of peace, stability, social order, and sustainable development through mental, physical, material and financial contribution under the motto of “Nation, Religion, King”.
During this solemn occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Ninth of November National Independence Day and Establishment of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, the Royal Government of the Fifth Legislature born from the peaceful, fair, just and transparent election on 28 July 2013, is determined to unflinchingly follow through the noble mission of Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh to accelerate development pace and implement in-depth and comprehensive state reform, especially the “Rectangular Strategy-Phase III for Growth, Employment, Equity, and Efficiency”, which is the socio-economic agenda of the “Political Platform of the Royal Government of the FifthLegislature of the National Assembly”.
The Royal Government of the Fifth Legislature of the National Assembly is born from and belongs to the people, is ready for any challenge to serve the nation, the country and the people under the motto of Nation, Religion, King, aiming to build and protect the nation and achievements of the Kingdom of Cambodia in the context of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace, democracy and progress under the shelter of The Most Respected His Majesty NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia.
At the end, I would like to wish His Majesty NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen-Mother NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK healthiness, longevity, strength to be the shelter for all Cambodian people. I would like to wish Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, all kinds of armed forces and compatriots the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Healthiness and Strength./.
