PHNOM PENH: During his working visit to Japan as Cambodian People’s Party President, former Prime Minister Hun Sen met with Yasushi Akashi, the former head of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), the organization that helped get Cambodia back on track after the brutal years of the Khmer Rouge regime. The Japanese diplomat recalled the vital role Hun Sen’s good cooperation played in achieving good results during the UNTAC era.

On January 11, the two dignitaries recalled Cambodia’s situation in the early 1990’s, with Yasushi Akashi saying that his year and a half in Cambodia from 1992-93 hold some of his best memories as he headed the UNTAC mission. He noted that the former PM’s ability to be flexible and gentle, yet firm led to the current prosperity Cambodia enjoys.

He then praised the leadership of the Royal Government of Cambodia for finding peace, restoration and reconstruction that allowed Cambodia to progress into a better situation. He compared Cambodia’s post-war progress to others in the region and said that they should be of their leader’s firm and wise leadership. He also praised the former PM’s decision to peacefully turn over power to the next generation.

CPP President Hun Sen was pleased to meet with the UN administrator and thanked him for recalling Cambodia’s difficult situation in the past. He said that Cambodia’s current situation of peace and rapid development is due to the joint cooperation between UNTAC and the relevant countries at that time along with the direct efforts of Cambodia.

He also reiterated that Cambodia has transformed from a war-torn country to a peaceful one, from a battlefield to a development zone, from a lack of clean water and electricity to a state of adequate access for Phnom Penh and surrounding areas. He noted that the yearly per capita had gone from $100 to $2,000 at present.

The two dignitaries expressed optimism that the leadership of the new generation can take national economic development to a new level. They remained confident that bilateral relations between Cambodia and Japan would be further expanded and deepened in the future.