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PM Hun Sen to Attend ASEAN Summit in Hanoi
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2010 AKP --- Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen will attend the 17th ASEAN Summit and related Summits that due to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from October 28 to 30, 2010, according to a recent press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen will lead a Cambodian delegation to Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Summit at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, said the press release.
The delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Hor Namhong; Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce H.E. Cham Prasidh, and several officials of the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The 17th ASEAN Summit will host some related summits that include the 13th ASEAN Summit plus Three-China, Japan and South Korea; the 8th ASEAN- India Summit; The 2nd ASEAN- Russia Summit; the 3rd ASEAN- United Nations Summit; the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit, said the press release.
In the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, the State and Government leaders of the ASEAN member countries are expected to ink some important agreements such as the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, said the press release, adding that the State and Government leaders will also give speeches focusing on human resources development and skill.--AKP
(By Neou)
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Samdech Hun Sen Welcomes Golf Course Investment in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen met here recently with Mr. Nick Faldo, a Golf Course Architect.
During the meeting, H.E Nick Faldo, who is an international golfer, informed Cambodian Premier of his project on the construction of an international golf course under the cooperation with a local private construction company in Phnom Penh, according to an assistant of Samdech Hun Sen.
In reply, Prime Minister Techo Hun Sen welcomed the project and asked Mr. Nick Faldo and the local company to closely working together and hoped the golf course will attract international golfers.--AKP
(By Ou Sokha)
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110-km Railway Section from Phnom Penh to Touk Meas Reopened
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2010 AKP -- A 110-km railway section from Phnom Penh to Touk Meas, Kampot province, was reopened last Friday after several months of restoration.
Speaking at the reopening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance H.E. Keat Chhon said the restoration of the railroad in Cambodia contributed to the national economic development and the consolidation of regional and global integration, promoting the competition and cost-effectiveness and facilitating railway transportation within Cambodia, the region and the world.
He noted that the railway reopening was the evidence showing the implementation of State-and-private sector mechanism through which the private sector contributes to infrastructure development.
The reopened railway section from Phnom Penh to Touk Meas marks the first-phase in the overall restoration of railroads in Cambodia at an estimated cost of US$141.6 millions, in grant and loan, with US$84 millions financed by the Asia Development Bank (ADB); US$21.5 millions as grant by the Government of Australia through AusAID; US$13 millions by OFID; US$2.8 millions in rails donated by the Government of Malaysia; and US$20.3 millions as financial contribution by the Royal Government of Cambodia.
The concession agreement on the first-phase of railroad restoration project was signed between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Toll Royal Railway in June 2009, under which the Royal Government of Cambodia maintains the ownership of railway infrastructure and the Toll Royal Railway is responsible for railway business operation and maintenance.
The next stages of project are the restoration of 142-km section from Touk Meas to the seaport of Sihanoukville and 338 km railway line in the north from Phnom Penh to Serey Sophoin, and the rebuilding of lost section of 48 km linking Poi Pet to the border with Thailand, and the construction of a new station at Samrong, said Public Works and Transport Minister H.E. Tram Iv Tek.
ADB Southeast Asia Department Director-General Kunio Senga said the railways have played important role in Cambodia for more than 75 years, and many Cambodians regard the railroad as a symbol of development and means to allow Cambodia to integrate into the neighboring countries in Great Mekong Sub-Region and the world.
He was convinced that two years later, Cambodia’s railway will return to its full, original state and reconnect Cambodia with Thailand.
In the past, the railway played important role in the development of Cambodia, he said, adding that in the future it would be of the same importance to bring about economic development and prosperity to the Cambodians.--AKP
(By Ravuth M.)
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AKP/04
Statement of ASEAN Agriculture Ministers
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2010 AKP -- The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry have issued here on October 23 a joint statement on “ASEAN Cooperation on Animal Health and Zoonoses: Avian Influenza and Beyond”.
Following is the full text of the statement:
1- We, the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, during the 32nd AMAF Meeting on 24 October 2010, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Chan Sarun, agreed to declare our support and commitment in advancing the ASEAN Cooperation on Animal Health and Zoonoses;
2- Recognising the significant importance of the ASEAN Cooperation on Animal Health and Zoonoses in the sustainable economic development of the region and in the realisation of the shared vision of an ASEAN Community, where its peoples are outward-looking and living in peace, stability and prosperity;
3- Recognising the expansive and devastating impact brought about by the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since the first outbreaks in 2003 on the livelihoods of farmers, food security and safety, and public health, as well as the significant progress and achievements made in its prevention, control and eradication through the collective efforts by all stakeholders;
4- Concerned however that HPAI being persistent in some countries, it remains a major threat to ASEAN and requires continued political support and commitment for its effective control and eradication. We therefore fully support the adoption and implementation of the “Roadmap Towards an HPAI-Free ASEAN Community by 2020” to serve as our long-term strategic framework in addressing avian influenza and other transboundary and zoonotic diseases of signification priority to the region;
5- In particular, we recognize the achievements and continuing efforts in addressing the threats and challenges in the effective control and eradication of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) through the expended South-East Asia China Foot and Mouth Disease (SEACFMD) Programme, and fully support the implementation of its Roadmap for FMD Freedom with Vaccination by 2020 in South-East Asia”;
6- We also recognise the significant socio-economic impacts of Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Newcastle Disease (ND), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), and other emerging/re-emerging diseases, and in full support for the development and implementation of strategic frameworks and mechanisms at national and regional levels;
7- Recognising further that the backbone of an effective and sustainable disease prevention and control strategy is a strong animal health system particularly veterinary services, we support the need for the ASEAN Member States (AMS) to allocate appropriate resources to build-up our respective veterinary services and infrastructure to the level required by international standard setting bodies. We are therefore in full support of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) pathway to help AMSs evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their national veterinary services and identify weaknesses and could form the basis for improving deficiencies and building effective veterinary infrastructures and in enhancing private sector engagement;
8- We also take note and support the ongoing initiative of the Programme for Strengthening Veterinary Services (PSVS), in South-East Asia by OIE and Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and particularly recognize the need for a comprehensive animal health legislation and governance as a key element for veterinary authorities to enforce disease control programmes;
9- Considering the complex nature of transboundary and zoonotic diseases as well as the need for a comprehensive, integrated and concerted approach in effectively addressing them, we affirm our support on the ongoing initiative to establish a “Regional Coordination Mechanism on Animal Health and Zoonoses” that will provide a unified and broader mechanism for regional coordination to address current priority diseases as well as provide for effective response to new, emerging or re-emerging transboundary and zoonotic disease threats in ASEAN. We further re-affirm our support to the strengthening of existing regional initiatives supporting animal health such as the ASEAN Animal Health Trust Fund (AAHTF) and the ASEAN Regional Animal Health Information System (ARAHIS);
10- Recognising that 75% of recent emerging human diseases originated from animals, we declare our commitment to advance the One Heath Approach and support existing collaborative frameworks on animal and public health governance at global, regional and national levels to address vulnerabilities associated with zoonotic diseases. In particular, we encourage the operationalisation of the “ASEAN Plus Three Joint Recommendations and Work Plan on Animal and Human Health Collaboration”, and the “Call for Action towards the Elimination of Rabies in the AMSs and Plus Three Countries”, endorsed by the SOM-AMAF;
11- We further recognize the increasing challenges posed by animal and public health-related issue due to closer integration and globalization, necessitates strategic partnerships and cooperation with relevant development partners and donor agencies such as the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), World Health Organisation (WHO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Commission (EC), Plus Three Countries, etc. This is for us maximise our synergies and complementarities in facing squarely the challenges posed by transboundary and zoonotic diseases and laying the foundations for sustainable animal health systems in the region; and
12- Finally, we, the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry, hereby pledge our commitment to fully support these initiatives and now task the SOM-AMAF and ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Livestock (ASWGL) to implement necessary actions and report progress in the advancement of the ASEAN Cooperation on Animal Health and Zoonoses that contribute to a prosperous, stable, peaceful and safe ASEAN Community.
List of Ministers
-H.E. Pehin Dato Yahya, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam
-H.E. Dr. Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia
-H.E. Dr. Suswono, Minister of Agriculture, Indones
-H.E. Dr. Ty Phommasack Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR
-H.E. Datuk Seri Noh Bin Omar, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Malaysia
-H.E. Mr. Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Myanmar
-H.E. Mr. Segfredo R. Serrano, Undersecretary of Department of Agriculture, Philippines
-H.E. Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, Singapore
-H.E. Mr. Theera Wongsamut, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand
-H.E. Mr. Ho Xuan Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viet Nam
-H.E. Mr. S. Pushpanathan, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community.--AKP
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Cambodia and China Sign Agreement on Rice Export to China
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia and China have signed on agreement on rice export from Cambodia to China.
The agreement was inked here on Oct. 22 by Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries H.E. Chan Sarun and H.E. Zhi Shuping, Chinese minister of Quality Control, Inspection and Administration General Department, under the presidency of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Yim Chhay Ly.
Besides, both sides also signed a MOU on "Hygienic Plant and Cooperation" and an agreement on the Cooperation Action Plan for Export Cambodian Cassava to China--AKP
(By LIM Nary)
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Cambodia Attracts Chinese Investors in CAEXPO
Phnom Penh, October 25, 2010 AKP -- A private investment opportunities in Cambodia has been presented during October 21 annual China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning City which impressed hundreds of Chinese investors.
On the occasion, key investment areas including agriculture, finance, fixed asset industry, electricity, tourism, mineral, technology service and telecommunication were brought for discussion.
The event also enabled a signing of 51-million-US-dollar worth investment agreements between Cambodia and China.
The expo the 7th of its kind, was held under the theme the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and New Opportunities.--AKP
(By MOM Chan Dara Soleil)
