(Video) Selected Comments of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, at the groundbreaking ceremony to build the “Takhmao Wastewater Treatment System” [Unofficial Translations]

CMF: 06/05/2025

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(1) Cambodia-RoK diplomatic relations elevated to strategic partnership with synergy for investment and people-to-people cooperation in all fields

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Cambodia-Korea diplomatic relations. (Actually, our country-to-country relations) began in 1970, but were almost destroyed during the Khmer Rouge era. (The former Prime Minister) Samdech Techo worked hard to reconnect Cambodia and the Republic of Korea to promote cooperation between the two countries. In addition to that, last year, during my official visit to the Republic of Korea, we elevated our diplomatic relations to the level of strategic partnership, which has increased synergy for cooperation, investment, and people-to-people cooperation in all fields, including education, health, labor, and cooperation in the development of Cambodia. Through His Excellency the Ambassador, I would like to express my gratitude to the Korean government and people for their cooperation and being good friends of Cambodia. Korean investors have played important roles in many sectors in Cambodia, contributing to social work, development work, infrastructure, real estate, and banking, among others. I hope that (the Republic of Korea) will continue to invest in enhancing our relations […]

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(2) In 20 months, inaugurated more health achievements than others

Health is the main goal. If we are healthy, we are a resource. If our health is poor, we are a burden. It is not different from a family. If there is a child who is healthy, strong, capable, knowledgeable, s/he can help with business, and/or earn money to support the family. If the child is not healthy, s/he is unable to walk, or has a chronic illness, s/he is a burden. Firstly, s/he cannot help much. Secondly, s/he is a burden for the parents and family […] In the past 20 months, we have inaugurated many achievements related to the health sector compared to other achievements. The opening of the Techo Santephap Hospital, the opening of the district referral hospital in Koh Thom, the opening of the surgical center in Siem Reap, the introduction of a policy to expand the coverage of the health system, expanding the NSS (National Social Security) system, which so far has increased the number of users by hundreds of thousands […] The construction of this wastewater treatment system is also part of the health (improvement) […]

(3) Dealing with wastewater and garbage as they affect people’s well-being and health

This place (where we are building the wastewater treatment system) is going to grow into a big city, like Takhmao, which is now different from the Takhmao from 10 or 15 years ago […] The higher the population density, the less land there is for drainage (of dirt and wastewater) to […] Therefore, dealing with dirty water or wastewater, dealing with garbage is more important because all of these affect the well-being and health of the people. If you live in an area with piles of garbage and/or dirty water around, the people’s lives are not comfortable and well-being […] If the people are not healthy, there is no well-being, the country’s development force is not promising […] When the people develop, they need a living situation that is appropriate to their needs and living standards, plus the growth of the people there […]

(4) The wastewater treatment system supports citizen’s health and enhances surrounding environment value

After the groundbreaking of the construction site, in 36 months, this project will become a wastewater treatment facility, helping 10,000 homes […] which, in terms of citizen health, would be many people […] Currently, there are 10,000 homes, but in 10 years, it will be reaching 15,000 homes, and in 20 years, 20,000 homes. The wastewater treatment facility will help the health of hundreds of thousands of citizens in the future. From a place with little value (economically and socially, though they may have sold it for a high price, I don’t know how much), but with the construction of this treatment system, it will be transformed into a place of great value, because it provides benefits to support citizen health and enhance the value of the surrounding environment […]

(5) Turning wastes into compost and energy in several provincial capitals

This is the development of a country that goes step by step, on a sustainable path, with clear thinking and with the goal of sharing benefits with citizens […] A US$ 90 million investment has transformed the land into a wastewater treatment facility, with the construction of over 125 kilometers of sewage systems, plus seven pumping stations […] The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has put a lot of thought into the design not only of wastewater treatment facilities, but also of landfills. Tons of garbage are generated every day. They cannot be left lying around, nor can they be left to rot or thrown into the water. Some places have taken the next step, which is to turn waste into compost. There are ongoing investment proposals to turn that waste into energy in several provincial capitals […]

(6) More achievements to inaugurate – flowers blooming under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party

In the past more than 40 years, the Royal Government led by the Cambodian People’s Party has never been in standstill, and in this new mandate, for the past nearly 20 months, we have built/inaugurated various infrastructural achievements, including roads, bridges, ports, airports, and sewage treatment systems, in addition to introducing policies to attract investment, create jobs, and organize the expansion of production lines in various factories that we have attracted and expanded for the benefit of the people, in addition to policies to help farmers, the people’s health, education and healthcare, to create conditions for the people to be able to receive stronger health treatment, have better knowledge, find jobs to support their livelihoods ]…] Whoever talks of “flower blooms” campaign is up to them. All we are doing now is to expand the achievements, and to inaugurate more […] All these are achievements, which to us, like flowers blooming for the people under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party […]

(7) In peace and stability, no fighting and no division, more achievements will be built

(Some people’s) flower-blooming (campaign) aims to overthrow (the government). It is something that our people are fed up with […] We are now living in peace and stability. As long as we have stability, peace, no fighting, no division, we will continue to move forward together to build more achievements, whether yesterday’s achievements, today’s achievements or tomorrow’s achievements, we will strive to continue to build more […] This July (2025), we have to inaugurate the airport […] We are preparing to build a Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge from the night market (on the Phnom Peng city side) to the Sokha Hotel and on to Arey Kasatr […] From Phnom Penh, on the west bank of the Mekong River, to Arey Kasatr, on the east bank of the Mekong Rover, there are plans to build not only one road and bridge, but also a series of bridges […] The clean water project area here is not just a thought. Sooner or later, it will become a city. The development (can be achieved due to) the interconnectedness of the airport area, logistics area, factories, enterprises, special economic zones, and the connection to the Funan Techo Canal that we are going to build […]

(8) Despite dark, clear and/or rainy skies, the government is with the people to protect and create more achievements

We are moving forward. From having no roads, we then build paths for oxcarts, and then expanded them into large dirt roads, then asphalt roads, and then concrete roads. Where we used to use kerosene lamps, now we use electricity. Where we used to plough with oxen, now we are using pulled tractors. This is the development and progress of the country. The people’s livelihoods are gradually improving. Since the end of the war in 1998, the poverty rate was more than 50% and it had come down to more than 10% before COVID-19 […] The COVID-19 has caused serious impacts on the economy. Up to now, we are facing short-term uncertainty in our progress due to the trade war issue […] There are some dark skies, clear skies, and rainy skies, but the government is with you, making every effort to protect the achievements and create more achievements for the people, both collective achievements and favorable conditions, so that people can continue to enjoy the benefits individually […] No one is perfect. But we have seen what the people want […] We are trying to improve. What the people see as good, and are encouraging for more, we will continue to fulfil […]

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(9) Cities/provinces to instruct and inspect factories/enterprises treating wastewater before discharging into the water source

We are working of projects relating to water for many purposes – firstly, for agriculture; secondly, for use in industry, services, such as factories and other enterprises; and thirdly, for people and animals to drink and use. What we are doing today is related to the second point, namely water for use, serving industry, various economic activities […] This task requires consideration of the environment and health. So, we must control the processing of this dirty water, especially in the provinces […] In some places, the wastewater is discharged into the public water system […] I urge the capital and provinces, especially those in the provinces connected to rivers and seas, instruct and inspect the factories and enterprises that discharge into (water sources) and make this water pass through the process of wastewater treatment system. The provincial environmental department and experts must pay attention to this and check regularly. There must be no shortcoming […]