(Dili): Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen firmly stated that China has never pressured Cambodia to "do this or do that." He urged all donor countries and development partners to respect Cambodia’s sovereignty.

Samdech Techo spoke on Friday (May 9) during a keynote address on "Lessons from Samdech Techo Hun Sen: Cambodia’s Journey from Genocide and Poverty to Freedom and Development” in Dili, Timor-Leste.

“I express my profound respect for the People’s Republic of China. During the state visit of President Xi Jinping to Cambodia on 17–18 April, it was evident that China has never imposed any conditions on us to act in a particular way,” Samdech Techo underscored.

He urged all donor nations and development partners to refrain from placing conditions on their assistance, stressing that aid should not be used as a tool to dictate Cambodia’s actions.

On the occasion, Samdech Techo emphasised that national ownership of one’s destiny is essential for preserving sovereignty. “When a nation loses control over its own destiny, internal fragmentation and serious crises are inevitable.”

He continued by saying that although Cambodia has received international assistance from foreign partners and the United Nations, lasting peace cannot be sustained unless Cambodians take the lead in shaping their own development. He affirmed that this principle embodies the true meaning of Cambodia’s “win-win policy”—a policy conceived, implemented, and realised by Cambodians themselves.

Reflecting on the nation’s past, Samdech Hun Sen noted that Cambodia had once suffered from foreign interference, which undermined its autonomy and subjected it to external influence. “If we did not follow their instructions, they would suspend aid,” he said.
=FRESH NEWS