Hun Manet vows to bring prosperity to Cambodia.docx

By YANG HAN in Hong Kong China Daily Updated: 2023-08-23 09:41HunManetvowstobringprosperitytoCambodiaf*in+HunManetisconfirmedbytheNationalAssemblyasCambodia1SnewprimeministeronTuesday.CindyLiu/REUTERSNewCambodianPrimeMinisterHunManetpledgedtoleadthecountrytowardprosperity,afterreceivingavoteofconfidenceattheNationalAssemblyonTuesday.Inhisfirstspeechasprimeminister,HunManetsaidthegovernmentis"relentlesslyandenergeticallycommittedtofulfillingthishistoricmissionofacceleratingdevelopmentandpushingfordeeperandbroaderreforms.HunManet'sroleforthe2023-28termwasunanimously叩ProVedby123lawmakersinavoteofconfidenceattheNationalAssembly,CambodiafSstatemediaAgenceKampucheaPressereported.IntheJuly23generalelection,HunManet,sCambodianPeople'sParty,orCPP,took120of125seatsintheNationalAssemblyinalandslidevictory.HunManetsaidtheelectionresultreflectsthestrongwillandsupportofCambodianstoseethecountrybeingledtowardprogressandprosperitythroughthepathofpeace,developmentandreforminallsectors.Thegovernmentwillworktoensureprotectionofpeace,stability,securityandsafety,hesaid,whilevowingtoimprovepeople'slivelihoodsandfocusondevelopment.Hesaidthenewgovernmentwillgiveattentiontosixprioritypolicyprogramsthatwillbelaunchedimmediately.Theseincludeexpandinghealthcareservices,providingvocationalandtechnicaltrainingforyouth,andinstitutionalizingthenationalsocialassistanceprogram.HunManet,45,succeededhis71-year-oldfatherSamdechTechoHunSen,whosteppeddownafterhavingheldthepositionformorethan38years,Xinhuareported."Itistherighttimeformetoleaveandforthesuccessortotakeoffice,"saidHunSenatanewsconferenceintheNationalAssembly.HunSenwillcontinuetoserveaspresidentoftherulingCPP.HewasappointedpresidentoftheSupremePrivyCounciltotheKingonTuesdayandisalsoexpectedtobeSenatepresidentnextyear.ExpressinghopeHunSenexpressedhopethatthenewgovernmentwillcontinuetomaintainpeaceandpoliticalstability,andthatCambodiawillsuccessfullygraduatefromtheleastdevelopedcountrystatus.TheNationalAssemblyalsoapprovedHunManefsnewcabinetmembersforafive-yearterm.Themembersinclude10deputyprimeministersand11seniorministers.KhuonSudary,70,waselectedaspresidentoftheNationalAssembly,becomingthefirstwomantoholdthetoppost.InhisaddresstotheNationalAssemblyonMonday,CambodianKingNorodomSihamonisaidhebelievesthenewgovernmentwillfulfillitsobligationstocontinuetopromoteeconomicgrowth,improvepeople'slivelihoodsandstrengthenthesocialsecuritysystem.1.imHeng,vice-presidentoftheCambodiaChamberofCommerce,toldtheKhmerTimesthathebelievesthenewgovernmentwillfurtherboosteconomicgrowththroughtheimplementationofexistingfreetradeagreementsinamoreeffectivewaywhilecreatingnewones.kelly