Cambodia's new Prime Minister Hun Sen and his cabinet were sworn in Friday morning at the Royal Palace after winning a crucial vote of confidence from the National Assembly on Thursday.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is President of the National Assembly, chaired the inaugural ceremony as acting head of state due Chea Sim is still in Thailand for medical treatment.

Hun Sen's 186-member cabinet was endorsed by 96 parliamentarians who attended the confidence vote on Thursday.

Hun Sen, who has been prime minister since 1985, will lead a new coalition government with old partner FUNCINPEC party for the remaining four years.

On Thursday, he said that the new government will pursue "effective, broader and deepening reform" over the next four years.He also said he has the confidence that his Cambodian People's Party and the FUNCINPEC party's stronger partnership will promote the work and efficiency of the new government to a new level.

King Norodom Sihanouk has already approved the cabinet in his royal decree from Pyongyang, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Source: Xinhua