国际英语新闻:Cambodia's ruling party adds new members to permanent committee

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) on Thursday added seven new members, including Hun Manet, the eldest son of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, to its permanent committee during an annual congress here, said a party's communique.

Six others included Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth, Land Management and Urban Planning Minister Chea Sophara, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander-In-Chief Vong Pisen, National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha, RCAF's Joint Chief of Staff Ith Sarath, said the communique released at the end of the 41st congress of the CPP's central committee.

Hun Manet, who graduated from West Point Military Academy in the United States, is currently a RCAF's deputy commander-in-chief and the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.

"The election to add Hun Manet to the permanent committee was made in accordance with the CPP's democracy," CPP spokesman Suos Yara said during a press conference at the end of the congress.

"Moreover, Hun Manet is a high-profile figure, who has received duties to defend the nation and is the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army."

The CPP's permanent committee is now comprised of 37 members of the country's political elite, including Hun Sen, who is also the party's president.

According to the communique, the congress vowed not to bow to international pressure over the government's actions against the court-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party and its leaders in "treason" case.

The congress also vowed to support the government's policies to boost economic growth, to create more jobs, to further reduce poverty, and to combat corruption, it said.

The CPP has ruled the country since 1979. The party's central committee consists of 865 members.

In a general election on July 29, the CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly.