PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen spoke of the constant challenges he has faced while trying to bring Cambodia to the level of development achieved today.

Speaking at the launch of the fourth phase of the Public Financial Management Reform Program on Monday morning, 20 March 2023, the Prime Minister said that he had to face three major challenges in his life before Cambodia reached its current phase of peace and development. The first was when he risked his life to overthrow the Khmer Rouge, the second was when he took risks to unite the country and bring peace to Cambodia, and the third was when he overcame all challenges to reform the country’s political and economic systems.

He further elaborated that when he was entrusted by the National Assembly to become Cambodia’s Prime Minister in 1985, he introduced political reforms related to privatization and establishing a free market system, which was a drastic change from the former socialist regime.

The Prime Minister emphasized that he faced immense internal pressure, economic pressure and pressure from negotiations during this time. 

^{PHOTO: KOK KY}