Deputy PM Vissoth Urges Global Priority on Poverty Reduction Amid Rising Pressures

BEIJING, May 28, 2026 (KPT) — Poverty reduction must remain a central global priority as conflict, climate change and rising living costs intensify pressures on vulnerable communities, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth told an international forum on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum, Vissoth said efforts should be measured by whether people can live “with dignity, security and hope.”

He warned that development challenges were becoming increasingly complex due to economic shocks, environmental risks and rapid technological change.

He praised China’s achievements in lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, calling them “one of the most remarkable development successes of modern times.”

Vissoth welcomed the Global Partnership for Poverty Alleviation and Development as a platform for cooperation, stressing that countries should learn from each other rather than copy models directly.

Reflecting on Cambodia’s own experience, he said poverty reduction was possible only after peace was restored following decades of conflict.

“Peace gave us confidence that tomorrow could be better than yesterday,” he said, crediting recovery and economic opening for laying the foundations of growth.

Vissoth highlighted current priorities under Prime Minister Hun Manet’s Pentagonal Strategy — Phase I, focusing on human capital, rural income, better jobs and expanded social protection.

He underlined the importance of free trade, inclusive globalization and multilateral cooperation to help developing countries access markets, investment and technology.

He said that poverty reduction is achievable when peace is preserved and development remains people‑centred, urging stronger global cooperation to support vulnerable communities worldwide.