PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Cambodia, along with other 178 signatory countries around the world celebrated World Population Day and the 10th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development on Sunday, aiming to promote reproductive health access for women.

    The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said Sunday Cambodia has reduced its maternal mortality rate from 473 deaths in 1994 to437 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000, thanks to the initiation of the reproductive health training program to train new midwives and develop cooperation with traditional birth attendants in both urban and rural areas.

    However, Cambodia has still one of the highest ratios of maternal mortality rate in Asia.

    Prime Minister Hun Sen was quoted as saying by UNFPA's press release that health and sanitary conditions of a significant shareof the population are still a matter of concern.

    Cambodia's Ministry of Health has committed to reduce the ratioof maternal mortality from 437 to 305 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2007, UNFPA said.

    UNFPA praised Cambodia's efforts to continue to make further commitments and actions to reduce maternal mortality rate and put high priority on the agenda of the 10th International Conference on Population and Development. Enditem