7 Makara (part 3) 2019, 40th Anniversary at Olympic Stadium

Prime Minister Hun Sen begins his speech (which was almost an hour long). Each year, this speech could be comparable to the USA's "State of the Union" address.

The PM starts with history of the liberation of Phnom Penh from the "Pol Pot Regime" or "Genocidal Regime" (never the "Khmer Rouge" as this term was coined to describe "freedom fighters" against the Lon Nol regime - a US-backed coup - who fought to reinstate the exiled King Sihanouk, which was eventually usurped by Pol Pot in April 1975. Many of these soldiers would eventually be given amnesty in 1998, so I think this is why inside Cambodia the "Khmer Rouge" is differentiated from "Pol Pot Genocidal Regime.")

He then talks about the progress since 7 Makara (the 7th of January - 1979), and of course mentions how nothing we have today would be possible without the liberation that occurred first. He always shows respect to the King Father, Queen Mother and King Sihamoni.

The last half of the speech gives specific numbers of growth during the past year across many sectors.

This speech is the only part of the ceremony when those in the diplomatic core receive special translation headphones.