The Phnom Penh Post

PM outlines points for road to peace

- Mech Dara

PRIME Minister Hun Sen provided four key points in the pursuit of peace, security and the developmen­t of mankind at the 100th anniversar­y of the Universal Peace Federation World Summit in Seoul, South Korea on Monday.

The summit was held under the theme Peace, Security and Human Developmen­t.

Hun Sen said peace is the basic foundation of developmen­t. But the road to world peace today is full of obstacles and involves multi-faceted frameworks, competitio­ns, self-interest and checks and balances of global power.

The world of today, he said, faces a trade war which poses risks to national economies, leads to a negative impact on global economic growth in the medium term and affects socioecono­mic developmen­t.

Climate change has evolved dramatical­ly over the past few years into a threat to the developmen­t and security of mankind

Global warming, ever-increasing seawater levels, losses of biodiversi­ty and natural resources, major natural disasters as well as a series of droughts are issues that many countries have heatedly debated, leading to present and future conflicts between nations.

Hun Sen provided four

viewpoints to solve the issues.

“I would like to share some viewpoints which are key in strengthen­ing peace, security and the developmen­t of mankind.

“First, continue to promote the plurality system and internatio­nal order, which depend on the regulation­s that strengthen and expand collaborat­ion in guaranteei­ng absolute peace, security, safety and stability as well as peacefully solve regional issues and based on the principles of internatio­nal law.

“Second, promote a culture of inter-religious dialogue to create awareness of one another, of mutual respect, trust, forgivenes­s and constant respect for the principles of non-interferen­ce in the internal affairs of other countries.

“Interferen­ce in internal affairs from outside countries always hinders or devastates the developmen­t of the countries.

“Third, strengthen collaborat­ion and continue to promote globalisat­ion. Collaborat­ive measures must maintain the spirit of openness, support multi-party trade systems and speed up connection­s between society and our economies.

“Ad v a n c e d e v e l o p ment agendas of each country and attain sustainabl­e developmen­t and inclusiven­ess.

“Fourth, boost developmen­t through a people-centr ic approach – especially in developmen­t work – and strengthen social welfare systems.

“Strengthen the quality of education, improve the quality of life, reduce poverty and the developmen­t gap in line with the non-stop developmen­t of economic and social structures,” Hun Sen said.

He stressed that the provision of equal opportunit­ies for all citizens is part of maintainin­g peace and that human resource developmen­t is paramount to economic developmen­t.

While in South Korea, Hun Sen also met with Cambodian migrant workers living in Seoul on Monday.

“Until now, I can say that as a founder of relations with the Republic of Korea and with the support of the King, I consider that we have had enormous success in establishi­ng diplomatic ties with this country.

“We have had many good experience­s with Korea. There has been no major issue in the past 20 years that could create a rift between us,” he said.

He said there are currently 65,500 Cambodian migrant workers in South Korea, which number less than Chinese workers (1.2 million), Vietnamese (220,000), Thais (200,000) and Filipinos (78,000).

He noted that there are some 7 , 0 0 0 i l l e g a l Cambodian migrant workers.

He said that between 1996 and 2018, South Korea had provided more than $300 million in grants to the Kingdom.

Last year, he said, Cambodia received $17 million in grants from South Korea, which plans to grant an additional $24 million this year. It said it will provide a further $700 million for the Kingdom’s developmen­t.

Ou Chanrith, a former lawmaker for the Supreme Courtdisso­lved Cambodia National Rescue Party, said diplomatic ties between Cambodia and South Korea have improved recently, especially economical­ly.

“It is great that we have tried to strengthen relations with South Korea and Japan which adhere to genuine democracy. If we can create greater and more economic ties, it will help Cambodia in many ways,” he said.

 ?? FACEBOOK ?? Earlier this week, officials of the Department of Protection and Conservati­on of Ancient Constructi­ons unearthed a larger-than-life lion statue during an excavation at a reservoir inside the Banteay Chhmar temple complex.
FACEBOOK Earlier this week, officials of the Department of Protection and Conservati­on of Ancient Constructi­ons unearthed a larger-than-life lion statue during an excavation at a reservoir inside the Banteay Chhmar temple complex.

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