Cambodian PM calls for trust of political parties in the region

Cambodian Prime Minister and Vice Chairman of Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen addresses the opening ceremony of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Dec. 2, 2010. The three-day 6th General Assembly of the ICAPP kicked off here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lei Baisong)

People's Daily Online
December 02, 2010

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Thursday that it is of significance that the International Conference of Asia Political Parties (ICAPP) promote trust and understanding among the different political parties within the continent.

"It reconfirmed the significance of the International Conference of Asia Political Parties (ICAPP) to promote trust and understanding among the different political parties within the continent, but as political parties they can drive policy agenda for regional cooperation, collaboration and integration," Hun Sen said while delivering remarks at the Gala Dinner hosted for several hundreds of leaders and stakeholders from about 40 countries who are attending the 6th General Assembly of the ICAPP being held in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.

"With trust and mutual understanding, we could create collective voices to successfully address emerging regional and international issues along the development path," he said.

The prime minister said Asia has gone through a sweeping change both in terms of political and socio-economic landscapes during the last few decades.

"More importantly, after the recent global financial crisis, Asia is becoming a growth driver of the world economy. Nowhere in the world could be the pace of metamorphosis comparing to Asia," Hun Sen said.

The meeting is an unprecedented gathering of great importance among political parties in Asia and Latin America, with the participation of observers from international institutions and the United Nations under the theme "Asia's Quest for a Better Tomorrow" and focus on particular issues such as economy, energy and environment.

The main purpose of the meeting is to enhance cooperation and exchange of viewpoints among and between different political parties with different ideologies in the region, and to improve mutual understanding and trust among the nations and countries in the region.

Other purposes of the meeting are to promote regional cooperation through the unique role and channel of political parties; and to create an environment for sustainable peace and shared prosperity in the region.

The selection of these topics is in response to the current global context with a view to: achieving economic recovery from the global financial crisis; ensuring energy safety after mineral resources have become gradually exhausted amid arising needs; and ensuring environmental safety following the drastic climate change.

In the opening speech to the meeting on Thursday morning, Hun Sen said this conference on "Asia's quest for better tomorrow" is "very relevant and timely, organized right in the aftermath of the global crisis; where we can see the emergence of a new dynamic regional and global economic architecture -- shifting of the center of global economic gravity toward Asia."

However, he said "The strengthening of Asia's role must start with the reassessment of sustainable economic growth, energy security, and habitable environment, which, in my opinion, are main factors for sustainable and inclusive development."

Li Yuanchao, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the assembly on behalf of the Communist Party of China and delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony on Thursday morning.

Source: Xinhua