Cambodia's ruling party marks anniversary, vows for prosperity

Cambodia's ruling party marks anniversary, vows for prosperity

PHNOM PENH, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) on Saturday commemorated the 63rd anniversary of its birth, vowing to build a better future for the country and the people.

The celebration was presided over by the party's honorary president Heng Samrin, who is also the president of the National Assembly, and Prime Minister Hun Sen, the acting president.

The party's ailing president and head of the Senate, Chea Sim, 82, did not appear at the event.

The CPP has ruled the country since 1979.

"In nearly 36 years, under the CPP's leadership, the Cambodian people have gone through various stages of hardships with success and honor, and we have created numerous historic achievements for Cambodia," Heng Samrin told the gathering of around 10,000 supporters at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh.

He urged the Cambodian people to unite as the nation is currently making its energetic and hopeful advancement towards a bright future.

"The CPP is determined to strengthen and expand achievements while making further efforts to build a prosperous future of our country," he said.

CPP, formerly known as the Khmer People's Revolutionary Party, was founded on June 28, 1951, aimed at leading the struggle to win independence from the French colonial rule.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140628/cambodias-ruling-party-marks-anniversary-vows-prosperity