Prime Minister Hun Sen received yet another honorary doctorate degree Thursday, with China’s Guangxi University for Nationalities awarding him a Ph.D. in literature to honor his achievements as a leader.
Little more than a month after the Phnom Penh campus of Malaysia’s Limkokwing University gave Mr. Hun Sen an honorary doctorate in “transformational leadership,” the new degree brings Mr. Hun Sen’s total doctorates to at least 13.
While it is unclear what type of literature Mr. Hun Sen was honored for Thursday, the premier focused his acceptance speech on themes of national peace, human resources and Cambodia’s growing economy.
“I believe that this honorary doctorate degree in literature granted to me today attests to the acknowledgement of not only my personal efforts, but also the joint efforts of Cambodia as a whole…in achieving peace and making progress in social welfare and economic development,” Mr. Hun Sen said after receiving the degree, according to an official transcript of his speech.
At the event, Mr. Hun Sen also met with 146 Cambodian students studying in China, held a discussion with them about Cambodia’s diplomatic relationship with China, and gave them $300 each for their studies, according to a post on Mr. Hun Sen’s Facebook page.
“China has been satisfied with the leadership of Hun Sen,” the post said, adding that he would soon sign an agreement for a 1 billion yuan (about $150 million) development loan to Cambodia.
Separately, a group of Cambodian opposition supporters in France issued a press release Thursday announcing a protest against Mr. Hun Sen planned in Paris for October 25, with a claim that the premier would visit the city then.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, CPP spokesman Chhim Phal Virun and Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said that any plans for Mr. Hun Sen to travel to France could not yet be confirmed.
