PHNOM PENH, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen led tens of thousands in the New Year's Eve celebrations at the Win-Win Monument in the northern outskirts of Phnom Penh at Monday night.
Live broadcast on all local TV channels showed at the event, the revelers enjoyed a free New Year's Eve concert performed by the country's celebrities for five hours, followed by a spectacular midnight fireworks display for almost an hour.
Hun Sen did not make any speech before the countdown to New Year 2019, but he posted to his Facebook "Happy New Year" and he blessed the compatriots with health, wealth and happiness in the New Year.
He said full peace and political stability are the most important factors that enable the people to celebrate the New Year without concerns over personal security.
"Peace has provided us opportunities to celebrate national and international festivals, even at night or day times, without any fears," the prime minister said.
"Therefore, we must stay united to continue to maintain peace and political stability for a more developed Cambodia," he said.
According to a government forecast, Cambodia's economic growth is expected to grow 7.1 percent in 2019, comparable to the growth in 2018, pushing up the nation's GDP (gross domestic product) to 27.2 billion U.S. dollars.
The country's GDP per capita is projected to stand at 1,706 U.S. dollars in 2019, an expected rise of 9.1 percent from 1,563 dollars in 2018, showed the government forecast.
