AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

Vietnamese Prime Minister Concludes Visit to Cambodia

Phnom Penh, November 17, 2010 AKP -- Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung left here this morning after concluding his official visit and attending the 6th CLV, the 5th CLMV and the 4th ACMECS Summits in Cambodia.

H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung and Madame together with his entourages were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by H.E. Ouch Borith, Secretary of the State at the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other senior officials.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Ngo Anh Dung was also on hand.

During his stay in Phnom Penh, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung was received in a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

Moreover, he also paid courtesy calls on Cambodian Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim; National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, and held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. --AKP

(By KEO Chandara)

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4th ACMECS Summit Opens

Phnom Penh, November 17, 2010 AKP -- The 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit was held here this morning at the Peace Palace.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, and his counterparts from Laos, H.E. Bouasone Bouphavanh; Myanmar, H.E. Thein Sein; Thailand, H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva; and Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung; presided over the summit.

ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Surin Pitsuwan, foreign ministers, delegate ministers, relevant ministers and business representatives from the ACMECS countries also attended the event.

On the occasion, Cambodian Premier Samdech Techo Hun Sen recalled the past history of ACMECS, saying that the Bagan Declaration at the 1st Summit put forth five priorities for ACMECS cooperation including trade and investment facilitation, agricultural and industrial facilitation, communication system linkage, tourism cooperation, and human resource development.

In 2006, he said, the field of public health was included in the ACMECS cooperation while the field of agriculture and industry were divided into two separated fields to reflect their importance. After that, at the summit in Hanoi, environment became the 8th field of the cooperation, aiming at resolving issues related to environmental threats.

The broadening of the cooperation has shown the significance the member countries have given to this sub-regional economic cooperation strategy, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, adding that the most important thing is that ACMECS cooperation has been integrated into the master plan of ASEAN. “The link of ACMECS contributes not only to the vision of ASEAN link, but also to the establishment of ASEAN Community by 2015,” he stressed.

The Cambodian prime minister believed that the continued efforts in trade, investment and tourism facilitation will help promote social economy and prosperity,” he said.

He also spoke of the climate change which he termed as life-and-death factor for the ACMECS countries’ future. Last month, ACMECS member countries, including Cambodia, were badly affected by abnormally heavy rain and flooding in several areas of the country.

As the ACMECS courries can be considered as a world important rice stock, the Cambodian leader hoped that the agricultural production domain, especially rice production, will become an important composition of our cooperation in the future.

He further emphasized the importance of support and participation of the private sector in achieving the ACMECS’ joint visions. He then asked the governments of ACMECS member countries to provide more opportunities to private sector so that it can participate in the ACMECS cooperation.

The development and prosperity of ACMECS are also inseparable from the support of the development partners.

ACMECS was officially established by the four member countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, at their first Summit Meeting on Nov. 12, 2003 in Bagan, the Union of Myanmar. With Vietnam’s accession to the group in 2004, ACMECS currently consists of five member countries. --AKP

(By OUK Kimseng)

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Thai Prime Minister Arrives in Cambodia

Phnom Penh, November 17, 2010 AKP -- Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived here this morning to attend the 4th ACMECS Summit to be held here on the same day.

H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva and his accompanied members were warmly greeted on their arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport by H.E. Ouch Borith, Cambodian Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other senior officials.

Thailand’s Ambassador accredited to Cambodia H.E. Mr. Prasas Prasavinitchai was also present.

According to the schedule, the Thai premier will hold bilateral talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this afternoon. This will be the 4th meeting between both premiers after the two neighboring countries have restored their full diplomatic relations by resending their ambassadors to resume their duties in last August.

An agreement on visa exemption between the two Kingdoms for holders of ordinary passports is also expected to be signed after the bilateral meeting.

Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation (ACMECS) currently consists of five member countries – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. --AKP

(By KEO Chandara)

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Cambodia Dispatches Troops for UN Mission in Lebanon

Phnom Penh, November 17, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia sent this morning 197 troops, of them four women, to participate in the peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) framework.

The departure ceremony of the Cambodian Field Engineering Contingent 513 was held at Phnom Penh Military Airbase in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense H.E. Tea Banh; Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee H.E. Prak Sokhon; and UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick.

According to H.E. Prak Sokhon, the Engineering Unit 513 is a construction unit, attached with a mechanical and manual demining unit. An advance team of 21 persons had departed for Lebanon 10 days ago to settle the ground and receive equipment and supplies that were shipped out of Sihanoukville port in mid October.

Cambodia has so far trained and dispatched five demining units to Sudan and one order keeping unit of 42 men strong for movement control for the UN missions in Chad and Central African Republic, he said.

“A total of 627 of armed forces, command officers and military observers have been sent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) mission in Sudan, Chad, and Central African Republic. Coupled with today’s departure of engineering unit 513, our total forces participating in the UN peacekeeping mission have reached 845 persons,” he indicated.

For his part, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick applauded the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Peacekeeping Teams for their dedication to providing assistance abroad, to sharing their skills and experience with countries that are suffering due to conflict.

“Your work, and the work of other Cambodian peacekeepers, will help make development possible and give opportunities and hope to the people and to the communities in which they serve,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Tea Banh has reaffirmed the royal government’s strong determination in humanitarian contributions to the world peace and security through the process of sending its troops to different countries under UNPKO.

He also advised the Cambodian troops to respect and obey the military disciplines, ethics, and other international laws and regulations. --AKP

(By SOKMOM Nimul)

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Journalists Play Vital Roles in Country's Development

Phnom Penh, November 17, 2010 AKP -- Journalists have played important roles in contribution to the development of the country, said Secretary of State at the Ministry of Information H.E. Thach Phen at the opening of the training course on “Community Radio Program Production” held here on Nov. 15.

The five-day training course was organized by the Media Training Center of the Ministry of Information under the sponsorship of UNESCO.

Altogether 15 information officials from 15 provinces across the country have been attending the course, said Mr. Meas Kim Suon, acting director of the Media Training Center. --AKP

(By LIM Nary)