Selected excerpts from Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s off-the-cuff speech at the 137th anniversary celebration of International Labor Day – May 1, and the groundbreaking ceremony for Sihanoukville container terminal and the celebration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan [Unofficial Translation]

(1) Westerdam to return to Sihanoukville port to mark the history of Cambodia’s humanitarian gesture Today we are celebrating three ceremonies together. The first is the celebration of the 137th anniversary of International Labor Day. The second is the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the container terminal at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP), and the…

Samdech Techo Hun Sen: “2022 – Unusual Year for Our Diplomatic Battle” – Extracts from the speech of Samdech Techo Hun Sen speech at the closing the 2022 work review meeting and raising the work direction for 2023 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation [Unofficial Translation]

Today, I am very pleased to be able to attend the closing ceremony of the annual meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which was suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 epidemic. I would like to welcome the presence of His Excellency, Lok Chumteav, leaders, members of the Royal Government,…

Selected Off-the-Cuff Comments at the Closing of the Annual Review Conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Official Announcement that Cambodia Will Host the 13th ASEM Summit in 2020 [Unofficial Translation]

• […] I do not intend to use this forum to criticize Europe. I wanted countries in ASEAN, Cambodia is one of them, to learn lesson from principles of consensus and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. It was the principle of consensus that unites ASEAN, though it was sometimes difficult to get to a decision. However, it keeps ASEAN away from division since they do not seek to resolve problems through voting […]

• […] ASEAN also has its own initiative on Indo-Pacific concept. We are seeking to synthesize regional initiatives, the belt and road also included […] under the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India raised its “Look East” view. Now, the government of Prime Minister Norendra Modi talked about its “Act East” policy. We must reach out to this decision. South Korea initiated its Look South policy too. We must in this case synthesize those initiatives in the interest of ASEAN and serve as the center of solidarity between and among states […]

• In the region, there are countries that create Ministry of Science and Technology. I decided to readjust focus of the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft to become the Ministry of Industry, Technology and Innovation. The Minister, HE Cham Prasidh, will lead this work, and seek to amend related laws and by laws at the National Assembly, while redrafting a sub-decree of law on organization and functioning of the Ministry. It will create units that conducts scientific and technological studies and researches […] to cope up with the industry 4.0 era […]

• […] I continue to stand firm on my position to allow no one to lead our nose around and we will not trade national sovereignty with favor or assistance of any form. (That would be lack of value and cheap) should we not be able to implement our laws and act according to what is required by others. Would we be still a country of independence and sovereignty? In the past, we could survive under economic embargo around us, though we had relations only with the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries’ bloc or CMEA, plus supports from Vietnam, Laos, and India. At present, we have many trade and business partners […]

Samdech Techo Hun Sen,
Closing Annual Meeting of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation, 31 January 2020.

Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s Press Briefing on Cambodia-Malaysia Relations, Regional and World Developments [Unofficial Translation]

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia and I have just wrapped up bilateral discussion in a pleasant, close and fraternal atmosphere. First of all, let me express my sincerely profound thank for Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for doing us the honor of conducting his official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia today for the…