The Taste of Angkor Wins Best Television Awards in the World
Phnom Penh, December 01, 2023 --"The Taste of Angkor", a cookbook published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAFIC) as part of its culinary diplomacy, has won the Best Television Awards in this year's World of Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.The event was held on Nov. 27-29 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in conjunction with the Saudi Feast Food Festival, said the MFAIC in a press release AKP received this morning.In 2021 and 2022, the book won the Best Asian Cuisine Book and the Best Heads of State/Food from Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.“This year's award reflects the Ministry's policy of promoting authentic Cambodian foods. It is a source of pride for efforts to get the world to appreciate the great legacy of a thousand-year-old culinary heritage,” the ministry underlined.According to the MFAIC, the Best Television Awards for 2023 went to cooking videos of seven dishes and two desserts from "The Taste of Angkor. The ministry's National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations produced the videos during culinary diplomacy training for Cambodian diplomats and their spouses. The training aims to help diplomatic missions abroad understand Cambodian cuisine, how to cook authentic foods, explain their history and promote Khmer foods and culture to attract foreign tourists and investment, and expand exports of Cambodian agricultural products.Culinary diplomacy is a cornerstone of the Ministry's Economic Diplomacy Strategy launched in 2021. The strategy aims to enhance Cambodia's international standing and contribute to achieving the Royal Government's vision of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050.Gourmand World Cookbook Awards was founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau with the goal of supporting culinary traditions from around the world.
U.S. Committed to Encouraging More Tourists to Cambodia
Phnom Penh, November 23, 2023 --The United States of America is committed to attracting more tourists from the country to visit Cambodia.The commitment was made by H.E. W. Patrick Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, during his meeting here on Nov. 22 with H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers.The U.S. will also contribute to the preservation and development of Cambodia's tradition and culture, especially the continuation of coordination on the return of Khmer ancient artefacts to Cambodia, continued H.E. W. Patrick Murphy.H.E. Vongsey Vissoth highly valued the bilateral collaboration between the two countries and looked forward to enhanced Cambodia-U.S. relations for the benefit of both peoples and countries.The two sides also discussed more cooperation in education, economy, agriculture, environment, and the fight against human and illicit drug trafficking and transnational crimes.
USAID Announces New Project for Enhancing Quality of Healthcare Across Cambodia
Phnom Penh, November 23, 2023 --The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announces the award of its new, five-year Enhancing Quality of Healthcare Activity II (EQHA II) to continue supporting efforts to improve the quality of public and private health services for all Cambodians.According to a USAID’s press release, EQHA II builds on significant success achieved under USAID’s flagship, five-year EQHA I project from 2018 to 2023 in furthering national systems for improved licensing and accreditation, leading to improved accountability of providers in the provision of healthcare across Cambodia.USAID’s US$35 million EQHA II project will be implemented by FHI 360, an international organisation that has partnered with Cambodia and USAID/Cambodia for over 25 years. USAID’s support through EQHA II will, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, support Cambodia to catalyse and accelerate systems for assuring, monitoring, and increasing quality standards across the national health system, the same source added.It will also help Cambodia to accelerate and sustain progress against priority public health challenges including reducing the incidence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, reducing deaths among mothers and children, improving reproductive health, and strengthening preparedness and response to emerging disease threats, it said.“By supporting Cambodia’s health system, including both public and private healthcare providers, to improve the quality of healthcare, USAID is continuing to deliver on our longstanding commitment to the Cambodian people,” explained USAID Mission Director Kerry Pelzman. “This work is critical to enabling Cambodia to sustain impressive gains in public health achieved over the past decade.”Key areas of focus include augmenting service integration to increase efficiency and effectiveness, advancing regulation and accreditation systems, and bolstering the health system’s institutional capacity to address emerging national health priorities. This comprehensive approach ensures a robust response to Cambodia’s evolving health needs.
China approves $69bn US technology merger
With the completion of its $69 billion (£55 billion) acquisition of cloud computing company VMware, computer chipmaker Broadcom has closed one of the largest takeovers in the technology industry.International regulators examined the deal before China gave its final approval.There were worries that the US-China tensions would have an impact on it.The approval comes after Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden met last week at the Apec summit in the US.Based in San Jose, California, Broadcom is an American corporation that creates, develops, and manufactures semiconductor chips in addition to providing infrastructure software solutions.Another American business, VMware, is based in Palo Alto, California. It creates virtualization software that enables users to operate virtual computers on real computers to boost productivity.Hock Tan, the president and CEO of Broadcom, expressed excitement about uniting their teams to create "the world's leading infrastructure technology company".By working together, they intend to develop hybrid and private cloud environments that enable customers to run "apps anywhere".The firm has applied for and been granted legal merger clearances in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the UK, the European Union, Israel, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States in order to finalize the deal.According to the firm, shares of VMware will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).Since 2018, when US President Donald Trump put tariffs and other trade obstacles on China, the US and China have been embroiled in a trade war.The newest popular commodity is advanced chips, which are utilized in anything from fighter jets to automobiles and cellphones.China retaliated last month over the Biden administration's move to place additional export restrictions.However, the two leaders that convened at the Apec summit were able to reach a consensus on other matters, such as cooperating to combat climate change and restarting military contact.President Xi was described as "a dictator" by President Biden, but China's state-run media celebrated the summit as "historic" and said it would be a "new starting point" for their relationship.Tensions between the two largest economies in the world have affected Broadcom.The company revealed plans in 2017 to acquire rival Qualcomm in what would have been the biggest buyout deal ever.However, after US national security experts warned that a pact could help China overtake America in the race to build 5G technology, Mr. Trump stopped it four months later.A few weeks later, Broadcom made the decision to relocate from Singapore to the US.
A Large Cruise Ship Brings Over 2,000 International Tourists to Sihanoukville
Phnom Penh, November 18, 2023--A large foreign cruise ship, Aida Bella, docked at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port of Cambodia on Nov. 17, bringing over 2,000 multi-national tourists on a two-day tour of the coastal city.Aida Bella -- with 230 metres long, 32 metres wide, and 7.3 metres deep -- departed from Singapore for the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port before leaving for Vietnam.The cruise ship carried 2,005 tourists, 1,048 of whom are female, from 25 different nationalities, and a total of 631 crew members.At Sihanoukville, the visitors visited markets and pagodas in the city, as well as other cultural and natural tourist sites.Sihanoukville port on Nov. 4 also welcomed the docking of a foreign cruise ship carrying nearly 1,000 visitors for a two-day visit.
China ready to be 'partner and friend' of US: Xi
President Xi Jinping told US business executives on Wednesday that China is "ready to be a partner and friend of the United States," despite growing concerns about the nation's weakening economy."This will only lead to wrong policymaking, misguided actions, and unwanted results," he said at a dinner on the fringes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, if one nation views the other as its primary rival and the most significant geopolitical issue.After meeting for the first time in a year and promising to ease tensions, US President Joe Biden and Chinese Premier Xi made their much anticipated remarks in San Francisco hours later.Following discussions at the opulent Filoli Estate, the two sides announced a number of agreements, the first of which was the reopening of a high-level military hotline."More roads and bridges should be built for people-to-people interactions," Xi declared to a group of about 400 academics, government representatives, and business executives."We must not create various obstacles or create a chilling effect," he stated.A guest list obtained by AFP included Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.With concerns about China's stricter business regulations and bilateral tensions, attention was keenly focused on Xi's remarks at the event hosted by the US-China Business Council and National Committee on US-China Relations.According to US and European company groups, foreign business trust in China reached a record low in September, with US companies seeking to reroute their investments outside."Open for business"According to Lindsay Gorman, senior fellow at the US-based German Marshall Fund, "Xi is interested in signaling that China remains open for business despite geopolitical tensions -- especially around the high tech industries."Even if some US companies might be keen to ease tensions, she told AFP that "there is a lot more skepticism" from them now than there was ten years ago.During US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's visit to China this year, Thibault Denamiel, an associate fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), observed that Chinese tech firm Huawei had unannounced a new smartphone that involved cutting-edge 7 nanometer technology.According to him, Chinese authorities seem to be pushing foreign enterprises to continue arriving while also conveying the idea that they can withstand geopolitical challenges like US chip bans.In addition to announcing on Wednesday that Beijing was prepared to expand collaboration on panda conservation—though no more animal loans were pledged—Xi also stated that China aims to bring 50,000 American youth to the nation for study and exchange programs over the next five years.The Chinese leader said he would welcome visits from local leaders and members of Congress after meeting California Governor Gavin Newsom recently.However, Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, took aim at the presence of prominent US business leaders at the summit, serving as a reminder of the still fragile condition of US-China relations.He said in a letter this week that, in light of accusations that the Communist Party has been involved in a "genocide" against people in China's northwest Xinjiang region, it is "unconscionable" for US firms to pay thousands for a welcome meal hosted by the party.Executives "must recognize that the reality of doing business in China today includes the increased risk of arbitrary detentions, exit bans, and raids by the Chinese intelligence services," Gallagher continued, advising companies to lower the risks they encounter.
Saudi Arabia to Foster Educational Cooperation with Cambodia
Phnom Penh, November 15, 2023 --Saudi Arabia is committed to fostering bilateral education cooperation with Cambodia.The commitment was made by H.E. Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy, Hanoi-based Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Cambodia, during his meeting with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports here in Phnom Penh on Nov. 13.H.E. Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy informed H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron about the Government of Saudi Arabia’s project to expand scholarships for Cambodian students.The Saudi Arabian ambassador spoke highly of the intimate relations and good collaboration between the two Kingdoms and pledged to further promote their ties during his diplomatic mission in Cambodia.H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron thanked the Government of Saudi Arabia for its cooperation and significant contribution to Cambodia’s human resources development.He looked forward to strengthening and expanding the cooperation with Saudi Arabia in order to further advance Cambodia's education development.
France Supports Cambodia’s Candidacy for the Host of 2026 Francophonie Summit
Phnom Penh, November 14, 2023 --France has expressed its support and encouragement for Cambodia to host the Francophonie Summit in 2026.The pledge was made by H.E. Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic, in the official talks at the Élysée Presidential Palace in Paris on Nov. 13 with His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORODOM Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.For his part, His Majesty the King underlined Cambodia's pride to host of the 2026 Francophonie Summit and appreciated France for its support which would reflect its willingness to strengthen its important presence in Asia.The Cambodian monarch also thanked France for its key role in continuing the intergovernmental mechanism on the preservation of the Angkor site for another 10 years (2023-2032), and expressed high expectations for the study, restoration and expansion project of the National Museum by French experts; the cooperation between the National Museum and the Guimet Museum; and the restoration of a bronze statue of Vishnu, as well as the exhibitions of Khmer artifacts in France and different museums.H.E. Emmanuel Macron took the opportunity to invite His Majesty the King to attend the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris on Oct. 4-5, 2024. His Majesty the King invited the French President and his spouse to attend the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026 in Cambodia, while H.E. President expressed his pleasure to accept the invitation.The Francophonie Summit is the highest authority in the Francophonie. It is held every two years and gathers the heads of State/Governments of all member states.Currently, the International Organisation of La Francophonie comprises 88 member states and governments (54 full members, 7 associate members and 27 observer members).His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni has been on a week-long visit in France since Nov. 12. While staying there, the Cambodian monarch will grace the Fourth Inter-Governmental Conference for the Safeguarding and Development of Angkor during the 42nd Session of the General Conference of UNESCO on Nov. 15.
China stands for justice over Middle East conflict
Phnom Penh, November 08, 2023 -Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference that Beijing has always stood for peace and justice in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.He said in response to a request from Tass for commenting on the EU's call for China to influence Hamas and Iran to avoid escalating tensions in the Middle East, "In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China has always stood for peace and justice. "We have maintained close contact with stakeholders.""We are working hard to stop the fires and explosions," Wang said. "We call for the restoration of peace."He stressed that countries outside the Middle East, especially superpowers, should be purposeful and impartial and play a constructive role in easing tensions.In the Middle East, China favored the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital.China should use its influence over Hamas and Iran to avoid escalating tensions in the Middle East, EU Commission President Usula von de Leyen said at a meeting of EU diplomats on Monday.
Low-interest loans for Thai nationals returning home from the Hamas-Israel war
Each Thai worker who returned from Israel as a result of the Hamas-Israel war will be eligible for low-interest loans from the government of up to 150,000 baht. With the money, they can pay off debts to employment brokers or use it to explore other career opportunities.The cabinet had directed the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to lend two billion baht to Thai workers in Israel when the conflict broke out on October 7, according to Paopoom Rojanasakul, secretary to the finance minister.Before moving to work in Israel, people who were independent contractors or vendors may apply to the GSB for loans up to 150,000 baht each, while those who were farmers in the past may borrow the same amount from the BAAC, according to Mr. Paopoom.He claimed that because of the war, several Thai laborers were forced to return home before finishing their contracts, and they were left with insufficient funds to settle their bills or explore other opportunities.He said that some chose to stay in Israel because they were worried that if they had gone home, they would not have made enough money to settle their obligations.According to Mr. Paopoom, the low-interest loan program was therefore approved by the cabinet to lessen their situation.The terms of the loan allow for a grace period of up to 12 months and a payback period of up to 20 years, according to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.According to him, workers can apply for the loan between now and June 30. It has an annual interest rate of 3%, of which borrowers will pay 1% and the government would subsidize the remaining amount.In addition to the 15,000 baht that Thai returnees have already received from the Labour Ministry's fund for Thai workers abroad, Mr. Chai continued, "Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn also proposed at yesterday's cabinet meeting that Thai returnees be given another 50,000 baht in compensation from the central budget earmarked for emergency purposes.""The minister also recommended that 5,000–6,000 workers who returned in the early phases of the war receive the 50,000-baht compensation," Mr. Chai stated."More details must be presented by the Labour Ministry, and the prime minister pledged to discuss this at the next cabinet meeting."To discuss assistance for Thais kidnapped by Hamas, Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara started his trip to Qatar and Egypt yesterday.Later on yesterday, he was scheduled to meet with the foreign minister and prime minister of Qatar in Doha, and today he was scheduled to meet with the foreign minister of Egypt in Cairo.According to Mr. Parnpree, "the Thai government is opening all possible negotiation channels to coordinate with Hamas and seek the release of the [Thai] hostages as soon as possible."It was revealed on Monday by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin that 22 Thais were being kept captive. None of the others could be reached.Mr. Parnpree reiterated, "It is imperative that all Thai nationals residing in Israel return home as soon as possible."
U.S. Pledges Continued Support for Cambodia Labour Promotion
Phnom Penh, October 27, 2023 --U.S has pledged to continue supporting Cambodia in promoting labour, vocational training, and social security sectors.The commitment was made by H.E. Patrick Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, in a meeting with H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, here in Phnom Penh on Oct. 25.H.E. Heng Suor informed H.E. Patrick Murphy of the ministry's vision to achieve a better job condition and to harmonise employer-employee relations for mutual interest.The minister underlined the ministry's priority programmes, especially the vocational training programme for 1.5 million young people from poor and vulnerable families.The programme provides Cambodian youth with market-oriented skills so that they can secure decent jobs.The Royal Government of Cambodia also plans to provide workers with free health care through its social security programme, he added.H.E. Patrick Murphy spoke highly of the ministry's policy and vision on the promotion of labour, vocational training, and social security sectors.
Cambodia Agrees to Pull Out Her UN’s Blue Beret Troops from Mali
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2023 --Cambodia agreed to pull out her peace-keeping troops together with other international forces under the United Nations umbrella from Mali, being intensified by armed conflict between Malian army and rebel group.Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, said he has given a notification of agreement on the UN’s peace keeping troops’ withdrawal from Mali.“A few days ago, I has given my consent to withdraw nearly 100 of Cambodian Blue Beret troops from Mali, as the United Nations had begun withdrawing them. Even the UN troops were being attacked,” he said at a get-together with over 12,000 garment employees and workers in Kampong Cham province this morning.In July this year, the United Nations Security Council Members reiterated strong support for the full withdrawal of the decade-old UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, and the transfer of security responsibilities to the country’s transitional government, which has been in power since a coup in 2021, according to UBy the terms of the adopted resolution, UN will completely pull out from Mali by January 1, 2024.
OPINION: A Paris Agreement That Failed to Bring Peace
Phnom Penh, October 23, 2023 --32 years ago, on October 23, 1991, three agreements were signed in Paris, officially called “Agreements for a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodian conflict”. Some, who recall this event, refer to the “Paris Peace Agreement”. Others do not hesitate to assert that these agreements and the United Nations mission responsible for applying them brought peace to Cambodia.Nothing could be further from the truth, and Cambodians know this better than anyone. Although the Paris Agreements and the United Nations mission were a major event in Cambodia's recent history, because they enabled the repatriation of 372,000 refugees, because they enabled the election of a Constituent Assembly and the establishment of a parliamentary monarchy, and because they allowed Cambodia to rejoin the international community from which it had been unjustly expelled in 1979, when the UN left in September 1994, peace did not reign in Cambodia.Need we to remind that, at the last press conference of the UN mission, UNTAC spokesman Eric Falt was forced to admit that "on average, the Khmer Rouge blew up a bridge every day". Need we to remind that on behalf of Pol Pot's movement, his representative in Phnom Penh, Khieu Samphan, officially declared on 8 July 1992 that his faction was withdrawing from the peace process?If we reread the Paris Agreements, we see that the provisions relating to pacification, considered to be the main objective of these agreements, occupy the most space in the texts. B. Boutros-Ghali, the UN Secretary-General, declared when, on 28 February 1992, the Agreements were ratified by the UN Security Council that "the achievement of this objective is a prerequisite for the proper implementation of the Agreement".If we reread the many pages of Annex 2 of the Agreements devoted to the entire pacification process, we see that "a ceasefire had to be obtained, followed by the regrouping and cantonment of the military forces involved, the storage of their weapons and munitions and the demobilization of the soldiers of the four factions". None of this was achieved because Pol Pot's movement reneged on its signature, provoking a fundamental change in circumstances that called into question the commitments of the other parties.And the UN offered the spectacle of its impotence when the cars carrying the UN Secretary-General's highest representative in Cambodia and the general commanding the 16,000 blue helmets of UNTAC's military and police component were stopped by a simple bamboo barrier guarded by a Khmer Rouge soldier wearing rubber sandals. What went down in the history of UNTAC as the "bamboo barrier incident" illustrated the lack of determination of UN leadership, who were more inclined to practice a "diplomacy of patience", the results of which are known every time they bow down to the totalitarian fanatism.The war continued. With its trail of suffering and destruction. For 5 more years. With a third of the country's territory escaping the sovereign authorities. And relations with a movement responsible for the deaths of more than two million Cambodians, a genocide that the Paris Accords had ignored, deeply disturbed the first legislature that followed the approval of the Constitution.We must wonder about the reasons that motivate those who tirelessly repeat that “the Paris Agreements and the UN brought peace to Cambodia” when the facts themselves provide the most complete denial of this assertion.The reason is simple: they want to deny the historical role of Samdech Hun Sen, the sole architect of the pacification of Cambodia. With the win-win policy that he implemented, at the end of December 1998, peace finally reigns throughout the country. It is unbearable for some to recognize that Samdech Hun Sen achieved what neither the Vietnamese, nor the UN, nor HM Norodom Sihanouk have been able to achieve.So, they want to ignore this achievement and repeat all the time that peace is the result of the Paris Agreements.In this temptation of negation, they even go so far as to attribute to the Paris Agreements the tremendous development of the country which is the admiration of all independent observers and competent international institutions. As if this development had started in 1993, when it was only the peace that came in 1998 that made investors and tourists want to come to Cambodia.Denying the facts, rewriting history, these are the methods used by those who have decided that nothing good can happen in Cambodia if it is not to them that it can be attributed. Sad and pitiful intellectual and moral poverty.
Cambodian PM and Spouse Arrive at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh
Riyadh, October 20, 2023--Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and his spouse arrive safely at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 19 night to attend the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit to be held on Oct. 20.
Cambodia, Laos Speak Highly of Their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Phnom Penh, October 19, 2023 --The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have highly valued the achievements of their Comprehensive and Long-term Strategic Partnership established since 2019.Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and Lao President H.E Thongloun Sisoulith made the appreciation in their meeting in Beijing, China this morning, on the sidelines of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.The two leaders also agreed to continue to strengthen and expand cooperation in a number of areas, including national defence, education, energy, and exchange of visit among senior leaders.Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed his support to the continuation of the “Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Joint Trilateral Disaster Relief Exercise” organised in September 2022, and mentioned a number of initiatives related to the promotion of tourism cooperation through the launch of Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam trilateral tourism cooperation “Three Countries One Destination” and the establishment of Phnom Penh-Vientiane-Phnom Penh direct flights.For his part, H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith congratulated Samdech Thipadei on the assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and was convinced that under Samdech Thipadei’s leadership, the relationship between Cambodia and Laos will continue to grow.The Lao President also voiced his support to the Cambodian Premier's initiative on the trilateral tourism cooperation “Three Countries One Destination”.Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet accepted the invitation of H.E Thongloun Sisoulith to pay an official visit to Laos at an appropriate date in the future.
China expresses its readiness to continue to support the first phase pentagonal strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia for the 7th mandate
The Chinese Communist Party has expressed its readiness to continue to support the first phase pentagonal strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia for the seventh mandate.The position was confirmed by Mr. Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the General Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, on the morning of October 17, 2023, during a meeting with Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, who attended the Third Belt and Road Forum" in Beijing, China.Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet thanked China’s party, government and people for their assistance for the kingdom’s socio-economic development. The Cambodian leader said that he has made two visits to China after the formation of the Royal Government of the seventh mandate in August 2023.Mr. Cai Qi welcomed the presence of Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister and the delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia and expressed his confidence that under the leadership of Smdech Thipadei Hun Manet, the process of building a common destiny of Cambodia-China would be further strengthened and expanded. He also recalled some brilliant achievements arising from the cooperation within the framework of the initiative of the belt and roads between Cambodia and China for more than 10 years, such as the development of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the new Siem Reap International Airport and Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway Construction Project.
Cambodian PM Meets More Chinese Companies in Beijing
Phnom Penh, October 17, 2023 --Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet this morning held separate talks with leaders of four more Chinese companies, during his stay in Beijing, China for the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Oct. 17-18.In the meeting with Mr. Wang Bo, Chairman of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), Samdech Thipadei congratulated CMEC on the success of its investment in Cambodia, and welcomed its additional investment projects contributing to the Kingdom's development.Mr. Wang Bo said in the next ten years, CMEC, a subsidiary of SINOMACH, which specialises in clean water, energy and infrastructure, will invest in a US$3-billion joint venture with two Cambodian companies in gas energy.While receiving Mr. Tse Ping, Senior Vice Chairman of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, which has been investing in Cambodia on livestock farms and real estate, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed his support for the company’s intention to expand its investment in Cambodia, especially in real estate, health and satellite, and encouraged the company to work with Cambodian relevant ministries and institutions.In his courtesy visit to Cambodian Prime Minister, Mr. Li Kuo, Chairman of China Metro Group informed him on the progress of the company's study on two lightweight railway development projects connecting Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport to Siem Reap provincial city and from Techo International Airport to Phnom Penh capital. He added that his company will also study various possibilities to help ease the traffic burden in Cambodia.For his part, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet encouraged the company to continue its study on lightweight railway development projects in the capital of Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kandal and Siem Reap, and voiced his support for the traffic-related projects that China Metro Group has been studying in Cambodia.During the meeting with Mr. Wang Jianping, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet emphasised two goals for railway development in Cambodia – the feasibility study on the repair and modernisation of the existing railway lines, and the study on railway connection from Phnom Penh to Bavet and from Poipet to Siem Reap, as well as to the border with Vietnam via Stung Treng and Mondulkiri provinces.Mr. Wang Jianping told Samdech Thipadei of the progress of his company in Cambodia. To date, he added, CRCC has a total of 53 investment projects in the Kingdom with a capital of approximately US$5.3 billion. The company also plans to invest in three more major projects, including data management centre in support of e-government, Phnom Penh-Siem Reap and Phnom Penh-Poipet railway projects, and clean water supply project in provinces along the Mekong River.
Cambodia, China sign agreement on eight more documents to expand trade and investment cooperation
China: Eight important documents related to expanding trade and investment cooperation have been signed by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of China.The signing ceremony was presided over by His Excellency Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, and Li Chheang, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, after a bilateral meeting on the evening of October 17, 2023.The documents that signed this agreement include:1: Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Promotion of the Third Key Project for Cambodia-China Production Capacity Cooperation and Investment2: Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Working Mechanism for the Implementation of the Bilateral Cooperation Plan for the Joint Construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road3: Memorandum of Understanding on Investment Cooperation in Green and Low Carbon Development4: Concessional Loan Agreement for Financing of Rural Power Transmission Project Phase 85: Exchange of Letters for Feasibility Study for Preah Vihear Temple Rehabilitation Project6: Minutes of the Meeting on Feasibility Study on the Location of Rural Road Project 3 in the Kingdom of Cambodia within the framework of Grant Funding from the Government of the People's Republic of China7: Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Cambodia-China Railway Cooperation Mechanism8. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Construction of the China-Cambodia Industrial Park between the Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Authority of the People's Republic of China.
Cambodian PM Holds Talks with Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation
Beijing, October 17, 2023—Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet (L, Pic. 1) greets Mr. Wang Jianping, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation, prior to their meeting in Beijing, China this morning, on the sidelines of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Cambodia, Türkiye Aim For Two-Way Trade Goal Of US$1 Billion
Phnom Penh, October 13, 2023 --Cambodia and Türkiye aim for two-way trade goal of US$1 billion.This was the spirit of the recent talks here between H.E. SOK Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and H.E. Ms. Ülkü Kocaefe, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye.According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AKP received this morning, the two sides noted with satisfaction the cordial relations between the two countries as they prepare to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.They expressed their readiness to jointly launch activities to commemorate this significant milestone between Cambodia and Turkiye. They also discussed ways to further strengthen the relationship and prioritise potential areas of cooperation in line with the Royal Government of Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy - Phase 1.On economic and trade ties, the two sides expressed deep appreciation over their close cooperation. They expressed their commitment to explore possibilities to increase commercial activities to achieve a two-way trade goal of US$1 billion.H E. Ms. Kocaefe noted that Türkiye had established an office of the commercial counsellor in Cambodia to better coordinate efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment.The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his sincere gratitude to the Turkish government for its development assistance to Cambodia. The Ambassador reaffirmed her government's commitment to assist Cambodia, especially through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism and education, including scholarships and training for Cambodian diplomats and students. They also discussed cooperation under multilateral frameworks.