Samdech Moha Rathsapheathika Thipadei KHUON SUDARY,
President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia and
11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP)
My warmest greetings to all peace lovers.
On behalf of the Cambodian people and Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, the President of the Cambodian People’s Party and Cambodian Senatewho is a unique promoter and beacon of peace, it is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the Eleventh Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Toleranceand Peace (IPTP) in Phnom Penh from 23 to 26 November. Hosted by the Cambodian Parliament, the theme of the session is: ”A Quest for Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance.”
Under the patronage of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and on behalf of all Cambodians, we look forward to hosting Honorable Delegates representing people worldwide with deep and joyous warmth, respect and friendship to the wonderful Kingdom of Cambodia, enriched by its ancient civilization, cultureand smiles.
Our gathering has great value and meaning. The world is at an inflection point amid deteriorations in the global rules-based order and international governance. Warand violence have erupted in many parts of the world. To maintain the paramount interests of humanity, we must further strengthen and enhance international mechanisms to safeguard peace and build trust, mutual understanding and tolerance– especially mutual respect. The culture of dialogue, a crucialmechanism of our International Parliament, must be promoted and reinforced to sustain humanitarian work and the protection of peace
As Host of the Eleventh Plenary Session, we aimto adopta Peace Charter to promote peace, tolerance and sustainable development through multilateral dialogue and cooperation based on global values and peaceful coexistence.
Peace is always priceless. Nothing is comparable. For Cambodia, which experienced decades of war, achieving and maintaining peace has been a difficult and complex task.
Our peace stemmed from the great stride of our compatriots who sacrificed their flesh and blood and even their lives to save thenation.Samdech Techo Hun Sen's win-win policy in the late 1990s put an end to war and conflicts between all Khmer factions.This win-win policy offered unification, reconciliation and tolerance for all Cambodians to live under a single constitution. This was the key foundation to gain time to restore and develop the country. Rapid economic growthover the following three decades gradually improved people's livelihoods. With full peace, under the leadership of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, the new Prime Minister under the seventh mandate of the National Assembly, Cambodia is progressing with energy and resilience. Based on people-centred development, it is moving towardshigh-middle-income status by 2030 and aims to be a high-income country by 2050.
Cambodian leaders – and all Cambodians – are keen to see people around the world living in peace, prosperity and harmony. We wish to see no country encounter or suffer from war as we bitterly experienced. We welcome and are ready to share with delegates our knowledge and experience in seeking peace. Cambodia is a country that used to host peacekeeping forces. We are now a leading regional contributor to peace-keeping operations abroad.This is an international obligation to which Cambodia attaches great care in its willingness to help the cause of humanity and the planet. As the Cambodian saying goes, "Cambodia has a big heart."
Your esteemed presence at the Eleventh Plenary Session is a great honour for Cambodia. Our parliamentary diplomacy represents universal values that will remain engraved in the hearts of all peoples.
I wish you all good health and great success at this meeting – and a pleasant stay full of good memories from our beloved land of Cambodia.
KHUON SUDARY
President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia
President of the 11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP)