PHNOM PENH, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Monday promised to take rigorous measures to fight against corruption.

    At the opening session of the 7th International donor meeting --Consultative Group (CG) meeting, Hun Sen said "the prosperity of our country depends on our ability to implement reforms at all levels," and "the biggest challenge for us is to strengthen government institutions and improve governance."

    Hun Sen said that a draft of the Anti-Corruption Law has been already prepared and needs some further review and the final approval of the National Assembly.

    The World Bank, which is co-hosting the two-day CG meeting, and other donor countries urged the government to continue its reforms and tackle the crucial issues such as corruption and poverty reduction.

    "To combat corruption, we should take rigorous measures such as streamlining bureaucratic procedures, simplifying and modernizing the tax system, eliminating excessive regulations, and motivating public servants in order to reduce the opportunities for corruption," said Hun Sen.

    At the annual event, held almost every year for the last decade,the donor countries and international organizations, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and Japan, France, as well as the United States will determine how much aid will be allocated to the country in the upcoming year, which accounts about half of the country's budget.

    Acknowledged that Cambodia is at the "cross road" and facing a tough challenge, Hun Sen said "we will spare no measures to take Cambodia forward for betterment of its people."

    The meeting between aid donors and Cambodian government will focus on issues of development, growth and poverty reduction, and press the government to combat corruption and increase government accountability.

    At the last CG meeting convened on 2002 the government got 635 million US dollars, more than its had asked for.

    But the 2003 meeting was canceled because of the political stalemate on the forming of a new government after the national election in July, 2003.

    This time, the government plans to ask for about 1.8 billion dollars in development aid for the next three years from 2005 to 2007. Enditem