via CAAI
King Grants Audience to Chinese Ambassador
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, granted here on Sept. 3 a royal audience to newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Pan Guangxue.
On the occasion, H.E. Pan Guangxue said the leaders of the People’s Republic of China would like to invite the King to attend the China National Pavilion Day of Shanghai Expo to be held on Oct. 1, in Shanghai.
In reply, the Cambodian monarch accepted the invitation.
Following on the same day, H.E. Nuth Narang, newly-appointed ambassador of the Cambodian permanent delegation to UNESCO, paid a farewell visit to King Sihamoni before leaving for his mission in Paris, France. --AKP
(By LIM Nary)
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Cambodia Is Successful in Its Development
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia can be considered as a successful post-conflict country, said Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen in his address at the 2010 Asialink Conversations - Cambodia held here on Sept. 4.
With the support of our development partners and the private sector, Cambodia has made giant strides in development in the last decade, said the Cambodian premier, indicating that since 1993, Cambodia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased fourfold from US$2.4 billion in 1993 to US$10.3 billion in 2008. During this period per capita income has more than tripled from US$229 to US$739. Poverty rate was reduced from around 50 percent in 1993 to 30 percent in 1997, then to 27.4 percent in 2009.
The structural reforms were undertaken to allow the Cambodian people to live in a modern civilized society. These reforms are necessary, a life-or-death matter, so that Cambodian society can face the future confidently and achieve prosperity, he said.
He further stressed that the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has successfully guided the economy, like other Asian economies, through the most difficult period of the global crisis. The RGC has acted swiftly to counter the social impact of falling incomes and employment from declining garment exports, tourism and construction pursuant to the crisis. Cambodia has managed to maintain the stability of the financial sector as well as macro-economic and social stability, especially the normalcy of the people’s livelihoods.
On the occasion, Premier Techo Hun Sen also touched on ASEAN integration, which he said should be a priority and key to East Asian integration in the long run. He hoped that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPAC) will help less developed ASEAN countries to use imported raw materials from China to process and export to more developed countries, such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Korea.
According to the prime minister, narrowing development gap among the regional members is necessary to materialize regional competitiveness and resilience. This requires us to reinvigorate domestic demand, and boosting intra-regional trade through structural reforms aimed at return for investments in domestically oriented sectors and removing impediments and bottlenecks domestic spending.
At the security level, he said, the East Asian region is wrestling with fighting terrorism and here too Australia is a major player along with the United States. Cambodia has greatly benefited from capacity training in counter-terrorism that Australia, the United States and some regional countries that have provided us during the past years. Moreover, Cambodia has embarked on the training of peace-keeping forces, making humble contribution to regional and world peace.
Cambodia is particularly committed to the regime of nuclear non-proliferation and welcomes efforts exerted to re-launch the six party talks to resolve the issue of the Korean peninsula, he affirmed, adding that peace and stability on the Korean peninsula are critical for the prosperity of East Asia.
Since its establishment in 2002, the Asialink Conversations has made a significant contribution to ‘second track’ regional policy dialogue, linking Asia with Australia, and prompting better understanding among people and countries in our region. “In this regard, I believe this communication connectivity helps to improve people-to-people and state-to-state relations between Asia and Australia, enabling us to promote mutual understanding and information sharing and expand our political, security, economic, social and cultural cooperation, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said.
He also expressed deep gratitude for the role that the government and people of Australia have played in Cambodia’s economic development and in the Cambodian peace process.
The Asialink Conversations, the sixth of its kind, was co-hosted by CDRI, Cambodia’s leading independent development policy research institute and Asialink, a non-government organization based at the University of Melbourne.
The event, also organized to commemorate the 20th anniversary between Asialink and CDRI, brought together influential participants from across the ten ASEAN member countries and from Australia to help solve political, social and economic issues of common concern.
Asialink Conversations were held in 2002 and 2007 in Australia and in 2004 in Malaysia, Vietnam in 2006, and in India in 2008. --AKP
(By MOM Chan Dara Soleil)
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PM Meets Former Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, warmly received here last Friday Mr. Gareth Evans, chancellor of the Australian National University and former Australian foreign minister.
Mr. Evans told the Cambodian premier of his visit, the purpose of which he said is to attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 Asialink Conversations – Cambodia, taking place on Sept. 4.
He said the forum is aimed at linking Asia with Australia, and promoting better understanding among peoples and countries in the whole region.
The visiting Australian former foreign minister also congratulated Samdech Techo Hun Sen on his endeavors in leading the country towards development, both in the economic as well as in the political and social fields.
For his part, the Cambodian prime minister thanked Mr. Gareth Evans for his personal role and great contribution to Cambodia’s national reconciliation and reconstruction. --AKP
(By SOKMOM Nimul)
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Cabinet Minister Approves 27 Communes of Some Districts in Kandal to Include in Administrative Control of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- Twenty-seven (27) communes of some districts in Kandal province have been approved to be under the administrative control of Phnom Penh Municipality, increasing to 103 communes/Sangkats from 76 previously administered by the city.
The decision was made at a cabinet meeting held here on Sept. 3 under the presidency of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.
In combination with the previous communes/Sangkats of the city, six communes are taken from Ang Snuol district, four from Kean Svay district, two from Mok Kampoul district, three from Ponhea Leu district, five from Ksach Kandal district, two from Lovea Em district and five from Kandal Stung district of the Kandal province.
In the meeting, the Cambodian prime minister also warned to remove any officials in connection with illegal land grabbing in Thmar Da protected area located in Veal Veng district’s Thmar Da commune, Pursat province.
The protected area is managed by the Ministry of Environment.
Meanwhile, the cabinet minister approved two draft sub-decrees, one dealing with the collection and compilation of data relating to job market and other with the arrangement and the operation of the disabled foundation. --AKP
(By THOU Peou)
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Cambodia To Host APF’s Meeting
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia’s National Assembly (NA) is going to host a meeting of the French-speaking Parliamentary Assembly (APF) in Phnom Penh capital city from Sept. 9 to 11.
According to a press release of the NA General Secretariat, the 5th Meeting Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of APF will open on Sept. 9 under the presidency of H.E. Nguon Nhel, Cambodian NA first vice-president and head of the Cambodian parliamentarian group.
The meeting will primarily focus on economic, social development policies after the global financial crisis, the development of higher education and the cooperation between the French-speaking countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
NA representatives from France, Belgium, Canada, Burkina Faso, Laos and Vietnam are expected to join the three-day event. --AKP
(By KHAN Sophirom)
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Systematic Mechanism for Conservation and Sustainable Development of Preah Vihear Temple and Its Vicinity
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- A presentation entitled “A Systematic Mechanism for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Khmer Temple of Preah Vihear and Its Vicinity” was carried out by Professor Yoshida, from the Tokyo University, and Dr. Neth Boramey, Royal University of Phnom Penh, for H.E. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers (OCM).
The said presentation was carried out in the afternoon of Sept. 1 at the OCM, said the OCM’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit, adding that this presentation was done jointly by H.E. Chuch Phoeun, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and Chairman of the National Authority for Preah Vihear.
They stressed that the Khmer Temple of Preah Vihear has unique characteristics, namely the harmonious existence between nature, temple and the people. As such none of the three characteristics could be separated. On the other hand, systematic management meant that the conservation and sustainable development must be balanced by focusing on three important factors as follows:
Education: create awareness about the sustainable development by educating the people, particularly the people who live in Samdech Techo Eco-Village, to be aware of the importance of their participation in the conservation of the natural resources. There is also an education on tourism services provision and the production of handicrafts.
Reduction of toxic waste in the atmosphere to ensure that when dealing with any related development, great attention must be given to the Temple of Preah Vihear site and to the harness of energy from potential natural sources.
Effective and sustainable distribution and utilization of the said resources.
On this occasion, H.E. Sok An expressed his appreciation for the National Authority for Preah Vihear and all of the speakers who have strived to research on an effective mechanism for the management, conservation and sustainable development of the natural and cultural regions in Cambodia.
In addition to the said three factors, H.E. Sok An also raised actual characteristics of the Temple to be further analyzed, and encouraged them to keep up these important works in line with the development activities of the royal government.
Meanwhile, H.E. Sok An stressed that the speakers’ view had exemplified the leaderships' vision for the National Authority for Preah Vihear, and he also elaborated on the significance of the Management Plan which had been submitted to UNESCO and that it had been highly appreciated in Brasilia, Brazil. --AKP
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Vietnamese Navy Ships Visit Cambodia
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- Two Vietnamese naval vessels anchored at the port of Sihanouk City on Sept. 3 for a three-day official friendship visit.
According to colonel Nguyen Van Kiem who led the two ships to Cambodia and met with General Tea Banh, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of national defense, the collaboration visit is another step to enhance maritime protection intervention between the two neighboring countries.
In terms of maritime protection intervention, Cambodia and Vietnam have cooperated four times to crack down terrorism acts and other illegal activities that threaten the security of the peoples of the two countries.
With some 130 naval troops on board, the two modern naval vessels were also opened for public visit.
General Tea Banh expressed his appreciation for the collaboration visit with a hope that it will be a useful experience sharing between the navies of Cambodia and Vietnam.--AKP
(By MOM Chan Dara Soleil)
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First Women Football Cup Tournament Kicks Off
Phnom Penh, September 6, 2010 AKP -- The first Women Football Cup Tournament kicked off on Sept. 4 at Banteay Meanchey province.
Ten women’s football teams across the country are participating in the competition scheduled to take place until Sept. 18, 2010.
The champion will get a cup, 24 gold medals and 2 million Riel (Cambodian currency roughly US$475), and the two runners-up will get 24 silver medals with 1.2 million Riel (about US$285), and 24 bronze medals with 800,000 Riel (some US$190) respectively.
The Women Football Cup Tournament is jointly organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia and Banteay Meanchey provincial authority. --AKP
(By Théng)
