Written by DAP NEWS -- Thursday, 01 October 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday asked Japan not to reduce assistance to Cambodia, even if Japan cannot extend its current commitments due to the economic slowdown.
The PM also asked to provide more assistance to the sea port development and agricultural sector, Ieng Sophallet told reporters after talks between Hun Sen and Masafumi Kuroki, newly-appointed Japanese ambassador to Cambodia.
The premier also urged the new ambassador to help attract Japanese tourists and investors, and assisting with human resources and culture, he added.
The PM thanked Japan for its help and role in seeking peace and the development of the country so far, Ieng said, noting that Japan is the top donor to Cambodia, with assistance on the construction of infrastructure and other fields such as health and the environment.
The economic growth of Cambo- dia could not be separated from the role of Japanese, he said, adding that the new Japanese ambassador visited Cambodia three times before he was appointed. Japan has provided many millions each year to improve the social affairs, clean water, irrigation and education in Cambodia.
Japan is strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two countries even though Japan has recently elected a new Government after general elections. Japanese foreign policy toward Cambodia will not change, according to Japanese officials. A statement from the Japanese embassy here said that newly-appoi- nted Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada will visit Cambodia from October 2-4. He will attend the second Mekong-Japan Foreign Mini- sters’ Meeting to be held October 3 in Siem Reap province. In addition to Japan, the five countries of the Mekong region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) will also be participating in the meeting. “It will be chaired by Hor Nam Hong, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation,” the press release said, adding in the meeting, an exchange of opinions regarding the strengthening of Mekong-Japan relations is scheduled to take place and taking this opportunity, Minister Okada also plans to hold bilateral meeting with other countries foreign ministers in the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Japan has been assisting the Mekong Region development and has been strengthening its relations with the Mekong region countries from the perspective of redressing the existing intra-region disparities, thereby promoting the ASEAN integration. 2009 is the ‘ Mekong Japan Exchange Year’, in which the exchange between the Japan and Mekong Region countries in promoted in various fields, the statement added.
Koy Kuong, MFA spokesman and undersecretary of state, said yesterday that the meeting at Siem Reap will be presided by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. “The Japanese Foreign Minister will pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister,” he added.
According to an MFA press release, the Siem Reap meeting also focuses on the ‘Emerald Triangle’ region, the area between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV). Besides providing millions of dollars both loan and grant aid to Cambodia, Japan has also provided millions of US dollars to the UN-Cambodian tribunal to seek justice for victims of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime.
Cambodian and Japanese trade volume in 2008 achieved over US$100 million with Cambodian importing nearly US$70 million of goods from Japan, according to a report from the Cambodian Commerce Ministry.
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