Phnom Penh (VNA) – The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) on January 7 held thelargest-ever ceremony in Koh Pich, Phnom Penh to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the January 7 Victory Day (January 7, 1979) over the genocidalregime of Pol Pot.

The ceremony waspresided over by President of CPP and Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen andCPP Honorary President and President of the Cambodian National Assembly SamdechHeng Samrin.

Addressing theevent, CPP President and PM Hun Sen said the historic January 7 Victory savedthe lives of millions of Cambodian people from the killings of brutal Pol Potregime and opened a new era of independence, freedom, democracy, anddevelopment for Cambodia.

The event aims toexpress the supreme gratitude towards the heroic soldiers of the NationalUnited Front for Salvation of Cambodia and Vietnamese volunteer troops whosacrificed their flesh and blood in the fight to overthrow the Pol Pot anddefence of Cambodia and its people’s survivals, he added.

He went on to notethat 39 years after the victory, Cambodian people’s living standards haveimproved significantly with the income per capita rising from 1,042 USD in 2013to 1,435 USD in 2017. The poverty rate declined from 53.5 percent in 2004 to13.5 percent in 2014 and continued dropping the following years. The countryhas maintained an annual economic growth of about 7 percent.

Hun Sen affirmedCambodia will continue to maintain and develop a democracy based on the rule oflaw and national interests and will not accept external intervention andpressure under the guise of democracy and human rights.

He also said thatCPP will continue to pursue planned reforms, strengthen law enforcement andensure social justice to satisfy the people’s aspiration. He called on allCambodian people to stay united for the country’s peace and development.

The event was attended by Ambassador of Vietnam to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh, andrepresentatives from the diplomatic corps, international organizations, andpeople from all walks of life in Cambodia. -VNA