Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 8 - Although Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is not in Cambodia during the Pchum Ben festival, he has managed two important tasks to assist Cambodian people during the Pchum Ben festival.

Citizens will receive free public bus services to their hometowns, and worker’s wages increase with the remuneration every fortnights.

"Obligated to do work for the nation, I have not been able to attend Pchum Ben festival with compatriots. However, I have taken action through Phnom Penh Capital Hall so that my people in Phnom Penh can travel to their hometown to meet their parents, brothers and beloved ones for free of charge and secure," Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote on Facebook on Monday.

"I have arranged for all workers to get increased salary [...]," he added.

Prime Minister and his delegation departed Cambodia Saturday morning for the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit from 6-10 October 2018 in Tokyo, Japan, at the invitation of the Government of Japan, according to foreign affairs ministry’s press release dated on 4 October 2018.

The 10th Mekong-Japan Summit will deliberate and adopt the New Tokyo Strategy, which aims at enhancing connectivity, improving the well-being of people and protecting the environment. The Strategy attaches importance on sustainable development and narrowing the development gap between the Mekong Countries and other ASEAN member countries.

Pchum Ben is a 15-day Cambodian Buddhist religious festival, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of October. Many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives of up to seven generations by offering food through monks in pagodas nationwide.

Although the full festival is 15-day long, the national holiday is just three days in length.
=FRESH NEWS