AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

Slovak President Arrives in Cambodia

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- President of the Slovak Republic H.E. Ivan Gasparovic arrived here today to begin his three-day state visit in Cambodia from Sept. 7 to 10, at the invitation of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

He was welcomed at Phnom Penh International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace H.E. Kong Sam Ol and other high-ranking officials.

The official welcoming ceremony will be held tomorrow at the Royal Palace.

According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Slovak president will be received in Royal Audience by His Majesty the King.

Besides, he will respectively receive courtesy calls by Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim, President of the Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, and Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister.

H.E. Ivan Gasparovic is also scheduled to visit Angkor temples in Siem Reap province, the press release added.

The visit is aimed at strengthening and expanding the existing friendly ties and the bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Slovak Republic, it said. --AKP

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Indian President To Visit Cambodia Next Week

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- President of the Republic of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will lead a high delegation to pay a state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia from Sept. 13 to 18, at the invitation of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

The Indian president will be received in Royal Audience by His Majesty the King at the Royal Palace, said a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dated today.

Besides, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will respectively receive courtesy calls by Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim, President of the Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, and Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister.

During the visit, the Indian president and the Cambodian premier will preside over the signing ceremony of two documents including the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the National Audit Authority of Cambodia and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and the Agreement for Stung Tasal Water Resources Development Project (Phase 2) between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Export-Import Bank of India, the press release added. --AKP

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Cambodia, Australia Satisfied with Their Cooperation

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and out-going Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Ms. Margaret Adamson have shared the same view over the good cooperation between Cambodia and Australia.

They agreed that the two countries’ cooperation has started since Australian contribution in Cambodia’s peace seeking and its assistance to different domains in the country.

During the meeting here on Sept. 6, the Cambodian premier also thanked Ms. Adamson for her endeavors in strengthening the cooperation between both countries, said Ieng Sophalet, assistant to Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

The prime minister further highly appreciated Cambodia-Australia cooperation in combating human trafficking, cross border crimes and terrorism.

For her part, Ms. Margaret Adamson expressed her satisfaction with her diplomatic mission in Cambodia. She also thanked the Cambodian officials for their cooperation and the Kingdom for its support to Australia’s role in ASEAN community and other international institutions. --AKP

(By SOKMOM Nimul)

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Samdech Techo Hun Sen Honored Mentor of CNS

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- The 2nd General Assembly of the Cambodian National Scouts (CNS) has decided unanimously to name Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and his wife, Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen, president of Cambodian Red Cross, as CNS mentors.

The General Assembly, held here last Thursday at the Council of Ministers with the participation of about 174 representatives of a 70,000-strong membership meeting, also named H.E. Sok An, deputy prime minister, minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, chairman of the national council and national executive committee of CNS and his wife, Madam Any Sok An, vice president of Cambodian Red Cross as CNS higher advisors.

In the event, Mr. Phan Sokim was elected as a chairman of national commissioner of CNS; Mr. To Chhoeun as national commissioner of adult human resources; Mr. Tuon Siphan as national commissioner for foreign affairs; and Mr. Lim Bora as national commissioner of youths program.

The 2nd General Assembly also decided to change the name of the organization from “National Association of the Cambodian Scouts” to “Cambodian National Scouts”.

In addition, 2010-2020 strategic plan of CNS is set up to educate and train the youths to join Cambodian Scouts Movement (CSM) and have each member of CNS become the next generation of the national society development. --AKP

(By THOU Peou)

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Japanese Ambassador Wishes to See More Potential Development from Irrigation System in Banteay Meanchey

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Masafumi Kuroki wanted to see more potential development from Trapaing Thmar irrigation system.

The Japanese diplomat made the remarks while he and H.E. Ing Kantha Phavy, minister of women’s affairs visited recently the irrigation network in Banteay Meanchey province, some 360 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh.

H.E. Masafumi Kuroki said it is a potential irrigation system to develop Cambodian agriculture, eco tourism and conservation project in the area as well.

Located some 66 kilometers from Banteay Meanchey’s provincial town, Trapaing Thmar irrigation system was rehabilitated at the total cost of over US$2 million financed by Japan’s grant and the budget of the Royal Government of Cambodia. --AKP

(By KHAN Sophirom)

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CRC Distributes Relief to 1,037 Vulnerable Families

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) has distributed relief to 1,037 vulnerable families including people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans, disabled, aged and poor people from Phnom Penh's Russey Keo and Meanchey districts.

The relief was handed over on Sept. 5 by CRC President Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen.

The donation includes rice, food, household utensils at the total cost of US$25,374, and wheel chairs from Australia's ABC Tissue Production PTY Ltd.

On the occasion, Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen called upon to all vulnerable families to take care of their health, especially the pregnant women and not to use domestic violence.

This was the fourth time that CRC donated relief to poor people after Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen was reelected as CRC President in Aug. 2010. --AKP

(By LIM Nary)

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Cambodians Take First Chinese Language Test

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- More than 80 students on Sunday took the first Chinese Proficiency test known as HSK in Cambodia, Chinese News Agency Xinhua reported.

The test was held in two examination places, one was in Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia in capital Phnom Penh and the other was in a university in Banteay Meanchey province, about 360 km northwest from the capital of Phnom Penh.

These exam students were from all walks of life in the country, including government officials, university students and members of the public.

Dr. Khlot Thyda, rector of the Royal Academy of Cambodia and the Confucius Institute, presented at exam hall and encouraged students to have a self-confidence and a good test.

A student called Zhou Shengli told reporter that he has learn Chinese language in local Chinese language school when he was very young, and now he works in a Chinese-funded enterprise. “I want to know which level I have achieved in learning Chinese, so I came here and sat for the test today,” he said with full confidence.

Another student, Hu Yongqiang, said that he learned Chinese language from local Duanhua School and have worked for three years. “When I learned there was a Chinese language test, I signed up at once. I want to improve my Chinese language level through the examination.”

The growing number of learners for Chinese language over the past decade in Cambodia was attributed to the development of the friendly relationship between China and Cambodia, especially to the further strengthening of the economic and trade relations in recent years.

The Confucius Institute in Cambodia was established on Dec. 22, 2009 and was jointly run by the Royal Academy of Cambodia and China’s Jiujiang University in Jiangxi province.

On Dec. 22, 2009, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping unveiled the first Confucius Institute in Cambodia during his visit in Phnom Penh.

HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is a national-level test of Chinese proficiency for non-native speakers. HSK is seen by many people as an equivalent to TOEFL in worldwide. --AKP

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2010 Theatre Festival To Begin This Week

Phnom Penh, September 7, 2010 AKP -- Six forms of Khmer theatre – Ape, Yike, Ken, Beb Bot, Sramortey and Sbek Toch – will be performed to the public with free of charge in the 2010 Theatre Festival scheduled to take place from Sept. 10 to 17.

The purpose of the festival is to show to the Cambodian people different forms of the Khmer theatre, and learn about foreign theatre, Kor Borin, an official at the French Cultural Center in Phnom Penh, who is in charge of cultural affairs, told a press conference last Thursday.

About nine different theatre groups and the foreign group Parnas will perform in the festival, the fourth of its kind, at Chenla Theatre, Meta House Cultural Center, Café du Centre, Reatrey Bopha Phnom Penh restaurant, Chinese House and Suon Rikreay restaurant, he pointed out.

The Theatre Festival has so far shown to the public 21 forms of Khmer theatre, he said.

The tickets are available at the French Cultural Center in Phnom Penh. --AKP

(By Noeu)