Phnom Penh (VNA) – The CambodianPeople’s Party (CPP) held a ceremony on Koh Pich island in Phnom Penh on June28 to mark its 66th founding anniversary (June 28, 1951).

The event brought together about 2,000 CPPmembers and residents from Phnom Penh and its neighbouring provinces.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Thach Duattended the ceremony and presented a basket of flowers from Party GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Cambodian Prime Minister and CPP President HunSen and National Assembly President and CPP Honourary President Heng Samrin.

In his remarks, Hun Sen affirmed that theCPP stands side by side with Cambodian people in any circumstances and strivesto overcome all obstacles for a Cambodia of independence, peace, freedom,democracy, neutrality and social development.

He discussed when Cambodia was under the genocidalPol Pot regime, saying the CPP was the only political force to lead theCambodian people to overthrow the regime on January 7, 1979.

Since then, the CPP has taken the lead innational defence and restoration while preventing the Pol Pot from coming back,he said, adding that the party also sought negotiations, aiming to end theprolonged civil war.

Hun Sen also stressed the CPP’s significantrole in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, which brought an end to decades ofconflict and violence in Cambodia, the 1993 Constitution and present Cambodia.

Cambodia has experienced great changes, particularlyin economy and social affairs, he said, noting that Cambodia has escaped fromthe status of a low-income country to become a middle-income earner and is aimingtowards high middle-income status in 2030.

The CPP leader also highlighted Cambodia’sengagement in international issues.

Cambodia is no longer a country admitting UNpeacekeeping forces, he said, adding that the country now sends troops to UNpeacekeeping operations.

HunSen also talked about the CPP’s victory in communal elections which took place earlierthis month, which, he said, demonstrates the Party’s role in protecting peace, politicalstability and development in Cambodia.

Withthe victory, the CPP is likely to win the senate election slated for early 2018and the parliamentary election scheduled for July 2018, he said.

HunSen used this occasion to thank foreign countries and internationalorganisations for their valuable support to the party over the years.-VNA