Phnom Penh (FN), Feb. 13 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reassured that Cambodia will not return to poverty like in the past.

Prime Minister urged Cambodian people to move forward with hope; and believe that nothing will halt the country's development process.

“Despite facing global uncertainties, Cambodia is in peace and prosperity, compared to other countries in wars and people have nothings,” Prime Minister underlined.

The strongman’s message was delivered Wednesday amid the European Commission’s announcement on 11 February 2019 to begin the process that could lead to the temporary suspension of Cambodia's preferential access to the EU market under EBA.

Cambodia had been plagued by wars for almost three decades (1970-1998). A five-year war from 1970-1975 killed over one million Cambodians and inflicted the most severe destruction to the country’s socio-economic infrastructure. On 17 April 1975, the regime of Khmer Republic fell. People hoped to live in peace and start a new life. However, their hopes evaporated in a blink of an eye, as they fell into a newer disaster – the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime – a bloody ruling of which around 1.7 million Cambodians lost their lives from torture, hunger, and overwork within just 3 years 8 months, and 20 days.

Cambodians, with their own sweat and blood, has transformed an unfortunately impoverished nation into a stable prosperous society. Cambodia has just fully reconciled for 20 years (1998-2018) under Prime Minister Hun Sen's win-win policy in 1998. Since then, Cambodia has changed positively 180 degree.

Cambodia was known as a country of zero productivity and trade. Today, Cambodia enjoys an average growth rate of 7% per annum over the past 20 years. Gross Domestic Product has increased to roughly US$24.6 billion, with an average per capita income of US$1,560. Cambodia trade worth surged to US$25,000 million per annum, of which Cambodia exports US$12,000 million annually.