to the diplomatic corps as ambassador to France. In 1998 he returned to government as a Member of the National Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In 2004, in addition to his position as foreign minister, he was appointed a deputy prime minister. He retired from his post as foreign minister on 4 April 2016 after 17 years in office, though remained as a deputy prime minister. He was the longest serving Cambodian foreign minister. Personal life Hor Namhong is married, having five children. His eldest son, Hor Sothoun, is Permanent Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and his two other sons serve as ambassadors: Hor Nambora as Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Hor Monirath as Ambassador to Japan (current Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism). Awards National Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia Grand Officer of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon Foreign Grand Officer of the National Ordre du Mérite (France) Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Thailand) References |- 1935 births Living people Cambodian Buddhists People from Phnom Penh Cambodian diplomats 20th-century Cambodian politicians 21st-century Cambodian politicians Cambodian politicians of Chinese descent Members of the National Assembly (Cambodia) Grand Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia Cambodian People's Party politicians Deputy Prime Ministers of Cambodia Government ministers of Cambodia Foreign ministers of Cambodia Ambassadors of Cambodia to Cuba Ambassadors of Cambodia to the Soviet Union Ambassadors of Cambodia to France Cambodian expatriates in France University of Paris alumni Members of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon