The prime minister received a lifetime achievement award from a Malaysia-based think tank, using the occasion to reiterate China’s contribution to economic development in Cambodia and Asean.
The award, named the “Distinguished World Leader Lifetime Achievement Award,” was awarded by Malaysian organization KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific Monday morning at Phnom Penh’s Peace Palace.
This seems to be the first time the organization is giving out a “world leader” version of its lifetime achievement award, and has routinely handed a “distinguished” version of the award to Malaysian businesspersons and international dignitaries, including Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
The think-tank award triggered the now-customary barrage of congratulatory messages and letters posted to government-friendly Fresh News, with at least 120 posts on the news site on Monday from government officials, business tycoons and security officers.
At Monday’s event, Hun Sen read out a prepared speech, published in both English and Khmer. The prime minister, who was accompanied to the event by first lady Bun Rany, said the award was credit to his government’s successes, especially his win-win policy ending civil conflict with the Khmer Rouge in the late 1990s that resulted in “national unification, peace and political stability.”
The prime minister then spoke about Asean’s engagement with its partners, specifically singling out China. Hun Sen talked about growing trade figures between Cambodia and China and called the major trading partner an “iron-clad friend.”
“The development of the People’s Republic of China is a miraculous achievement, which has benefited not only the Chinese people, but also provided numerous positive impacts for Asean and Cambodia in terms of social, economic and geo-political dimensions,” he said.
Cambodia was chair of the regional bloc this year, and handed over the responsibility to Indonesia.
KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific calls itself a “superconnector” of governments, businesses and civil society, and says it organizes policy discussions, regional meetings and provides advisory services based on their “indepth research and intelligence.”
