Cambodian former Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen held talks in Tokyo, Japan yesterday with H.E. Akashi Yasushi, Former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). In the meeting, H.E. Akashi Yasushi recalled the souvenir about his one-year-and-half mission in Cambodia in the early 1990s and expressed his high appreciation for the achievements of the Royal Government for peace, prosperity and development. For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, current President of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, said that Cambodia could achieve full peace and rapid development thanks to the joint cooperation between UNTAC and the relevant countries at that time and the Kingdom's own efforts. Samdech Techo also emphasised the fact that cannot be denied is that Cambodia has turned from a war-torn into a peaceful country, from a battlefield into a development zone, and from lack of clean water and electricity to sufficient clean water and electricity. Phnom Penh capital has been expanded from over 400 to over 700 square kilometres, and the GDP per capita jumped to more than US$2,000 currently, up from US$100 before. The two sides expressed optimism with the new generation of leaders in advancing the national economic development to a new level, and in boosting and deepening the bilateral relations between Cambodia and Japan. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse