PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has decided to declare a day of national mourning for former Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who died by assassination on Friday, 8 July, after being shot while campaigning in the city of Nara. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced this decision in a special audio message released at 3:22 AM on Saturday, 9 July.

"On Sunday, 10 July, the flag will be flown at half-mast across the country for national mourning."

The Prime Minister considers the death of Shinzo Abe as the loss of a good friend of Cambodia, because while Shinzo Abe was still in office, he paid close attention to Japan’s relationship with Cambodia, which led Cambodian-Japanese relations to reach the level of strategic partner in 2013. He also helped Cambodia build human resources, new infrastructure and contributed to other development programs.

"We are horrified with the Japanese people over the loss of a patriot and a good leader," said Prime Minister Hun Sen. “He has done a great job building friendships with the Cambodian people.”

He has ordered the National and International Festival Commission to issue additional instructions so that all public and private institutions can properly mourn Shinzo Abe on Sunday, 10 July.

Shinzo Abe was one of Japan's longest-serving Prime Ministers. He was shot dead by a gunman while delivering a speech on Friday morning in Nara city. His death shocked many world leaders, and people across the globe have expressed their deepest condolences.