Dr. Kyoil Suh, the President of Soon Chun Hyang University,
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, I am the most honored to be conferred with the Honorary PhD Degree from the Soon Chun Hyang University of theRepublic of Korea. It is my second honorary degree from the Korean Universities and my tenth degree from the international advanced-academic institutions.
This degree presents not only the recognition by the Korean University of my personal efforts but also those of the Royal Government of Cambodia and its People in maintaining peace, social welfare and economic development of Cambodia, which has contributed to a more stable and prosperous Southeast Asia.
Moreover, the Soon Chun Hyang University of the Republic of Korea has supported and provided much needed assistance in health sector through Korean Community Services to support the delivery of health services in Cambodia, including a free health care, training of doctors, and donation of three emergency ambulance vehicles to the Calmette Hospital. On behalf of the Royal Government and People of Cambodia, I would like to express my sincere thanks for this generous gesture.
During the last few decades, Cambodia has struggled to overcome many challenges and obstacles. Throughout those periods, we have made sacrifices and strong commitment in transforming Cambodia into a country with full peace, social order, cooperation and development. Economic growth has been benefiting from various reforms that the Royal Government has been carefully implementing including the Public Financial Management Reform, Financial Sector Development and thePrivate Sector Development, especially the improvement in business and investment environment, trade facilitation, private sector participation in physical infrastructure and small and medium enterprises development together with Land Management Reform, Public Administrative Reform, and Judicial and Law System Reform. All these efforts could be succeeded only under the realm of political stability and peace which are key for Cambodia to step forward in improving the living standard of people, respecting human rights, strengthening democracy and achieving sustainable development.
Macroeconomic stability have been ensured to promote economic growth which have deeply rooted in the Cambodian economy, and made it grow rapidly well and the poverty level in Cambodia has been declining from 47% in 1994 to only 35% in 2004.
In order to fast-track the building of a modern economically-advanced and socially-equitable state, the Royal Government in its 3rd term in office has been putting utmost efforts in reforming every sectors as stated in the Royal Government’s “Rectangular Strategy” which we have put in place toward achieving the CMDGs. This strategy has clearly identified the objectives of enhancing Growth of the economy, creating full Employment for Cambodian people, promoting Equity and social justice and strengthening Capacity in the public sector through the implementation of comprehensive reform programs. In committing to these efforts, we have the ambition to reduce the poverty level in the country to 25% by 2010 and 19.5% by 2015.
Cambodia is proud of the achievements and highly appreciates all the development partners for their strong supports and contribution that makes our efforts possible and successful. Hence, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the government and people of the Republic of Korea and the Korean private sector who have played an active role in enhancing the rehabilitation and development of Cambodia. We are strongly convinced that the Republic of Korea, with its great potentials and strong economic power, will play a more important role in international relations especially in enhancing regional integration and reducing the development gaps within the region in general, and will contribute more to the rehabilitation and development of Cambodia in particular.
I would like to share this joyful moment with my beloved wife Lok Chumteiv Bun Rany Hun Sen, my children and grand children who always motivate and stand besides me, and support me in all circumstances to serve the interest of the country and people of Cambodia.
Finally, I wish Dr. Kyoil Suh, the President of SOON CHUN HYANG UNIVERSITY of the Republic of Korea, and all the Faculty Members of the University with further successes in the development of human resource that will be further contributing to the strengthening of peace and social well-being, both in the Republic of Korea and the whole East Asia.
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