Prime Minister Hun Sen has requested that the UN Development Progamme (UNDP) continue its support for mine action in Cambodia so the Kingdom can achieve its goal of becoming mine-free by 2025.
The premier met with Achim Steiner – the Administrator of UNDP and chairman of the UN Sustainable Development Group – on September 22, on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA) in the US' New York City.
“We need the support of UNDP. I am pushing for the policy of a mine-free Cambodia by 2025 and we need its assistance if we are to accomplish this,” he said in a social media post.
Hun Sen thanked UNDP and other UN agencies for their support for Cambodia, especially his policy of advancing Millennium Development and Sustainable Development goals.
The post quoted Steiner as saying that in the years to come, UNDP will continue its support for Cambodia, especially in development. He said he was very proud of what Cambodia has achieved through the partnership between UNDP and the Kingdom.
Steiner said he was pleased to see Cambodia's remarkable progress towards achieving the aforementioned goals.
“We will continue to work with Cambodia, especially in the field of demining and unexploded ordnance. We are pleased to have partnered with Cambodia in addressing its landmine issues. We will make Cambodia successful, especially in this field,” the post quoted Steiner as saying.
Hun Sen thanked Steiner for supporting Cambodia's efforts to move from a poor country to a less developed one.
He also raised climate change issues, noting that with Cambodia chairing ASEAN this year and launching the ASEAN Green Deal, more UNDP support is needed.
When it comes to the ASEAN Green Deal, Steiner said that for developing countries, this work is not an obstacle but more of a task that must be given special attention in the ASEAN region.
“Regarding this green policy, what we need to do is focus on the importance of a green economy in the overall framework economy. We have experience and have worked with many countries around the world, so smart and effective policies are what we must push for – together,” said Steiner.
The post quoted Steiner as saying that UNDP would continue to assist developing countries, especially with financing, and would urge strategies to attract maximum investment.
