Annual Congress: CPP meets on politics, economics

via Khmer NZ

Thursday, 22 July 2010 15:02 Vong Sokheng

Annual Congress

SENIOR members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party turned out yesterday for the party’s 35th annual congress in Phnom Penh, where they discussed political and economic issues, officials said.

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said the meeting also addressed Thailand’s stated intention to try to block a Cambodian management plan for the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear temple. Thailand is expected to object to the plan when the World Heritage Committee meets in Brazil starting Sunday.

“On the Preah Vihear issue we understand that [Thai Prime Minister] Abhisit [Vejjajiva] is trying to use the case to alleviate the tense situation in Bangkok, so we must not fall into that trap,” Khieu Kanharith said.

Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the meeting also addressed national security, cultural affairs and strategies for strengthening the party ahead of upcoming elections. “My personal evaluation ... is that the CPP is on the right track and hopes to win more seats in the National Assembly during the national elections in 2013,” he said.