Cambodian PM vows to bring greater prosperity to his people

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said he had set a vision that his country will be among countries with upper middle income by the year of 2030.

He made the remarks during a recent interview with Xinhua on the eve of his official visit to China, where he would also attend the Boao Forum For Asia Annual Conference.

He said Cambodia has laid out strategies and action plans to achieve an annual economic growth of 6-7 percent in the long run, and cut the poverty rate by more than 1 percent each year

"Now the poverty rate among Cambodian people is 19 percent, and we will reduce the poverty rate to the lowest as we can," he said. "This year, Cambodia will move forward from a low-income to a lower-middle income country."

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and is expected to be re-elected as prime minister for a new 5-year term.

Recalling his political career, he said he joined the army when he was 18 and became foreign minister at the age of 27, very young compared with other leaders at that time.

At the age of 29, he became deputy prime minister and foreign minister and at the age of 32, he became prime Minister. "Until now, I have held the post of prime minister for more than 28 years- -one of the longest serving prime ministers," he said.

He said he has all along enjoyed full support by the party and the majority of Cambodian people. .

"I do only good deeds, if our party and I do bad deeds, no one votes for us," he said.

He said his party, the Cambodian People's Party, has a culture called "the art of sharing," and they use that concept to mobilize capitals and other resources to dig canals, built roads, schools and hospitals for the people.

He said that as a competent leader, one should not be frustrated in face of difficult tasks. "We cannot lose self- control in decision making in politics or other matters," he said.

He attributed his successes in leadership to the people's support, the competent people working with him and the correct political platform of the Cambodian People's Party.