More than 3,000 members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) attended the opening of the party’s 41st Congress of the Central Committee in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

The congress aims to elect new members to top party committees and carefully decide strategies to maintain peace and stability nationally and internationally.

The opening speech by the honorary chairman of the party, Heng Samrin, obtained by The Post on Tuesday said the congress aims to jointly review and assess the CPP’s general situation and past experiences, and set goals to be implemented in the future.

A new chair of the Central Committee’s Monitoring Committee will be elected after the Ney Pena, who was also first vice president of the Senate, passed away on September 29.

“[The Congress will] review and approve the draft reports on the general situation and 2018 achievements and set goals for 2019."

“An election to add members and choose a new chair of the Monitoring Committee of the Central Committee will be held, while elections to add new Permanent Committee of the Central committee [will also be held],” Samrin’s speech outlined.

The Permanent Committee is comprised of 30 people, including party president and Prime Minister Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Sar Kheng, Bou Thorng, Tea Banh, Nguon Nhil, Sim Ka, Ke Kim Yan, Pol Saroeun, Dith Monty, Chea Chanto, Cheam Yeap, Kun Kim, Meas Sophea, Neth Savoeun and other high ranking party officials.

The prime minister’s son, Hun Manit, is the current vice-chair of the Monitoring Committee of the Central Committee.

CPP spokesman Suos Yara said the first day of the Congress had proceeded smoothly, but couldn’t provide further details of what was discussed or achieved.

In January, the General Assembly of the Central Committee held elections to add 342 members to its numbers, bringing it to 865, a move CPP spokesman Sok Eysan hailed as “adding new blood to promote, restore and build development in all sectors and defend the country”.

Samrin’s speech said the CPP will “follow up and make political decisions in the most careful manner over the rapid and complex evolution of the situation in the country and [regarding] foreign countries in order to maintain peace and stability, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty and development of Cambodian economy and society.

“Don’t forget that the CPP is formed by Cambodian people to unify Cambodian people in all circumstances. We people have faced difficulty, and the CPP has always appeared [to help them] and stay with [them]."

“The success of the party is also the success of the people. We are happy with the success, but must not forget or be over-happy with success because our battlefield always faces challenges [and the] unexpected could happen any time.”