Friday, 20 June 2008

King Sihamoni to Visit Vietnam Next Week

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
19 June 2008

Khmer audio aired 19 June (906 KB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 19 June (906 KB) - Listen (MP3)

King Norodom Sihamoni will make his second official visit to Vietnam next week, where he will meet the Vietnamese president and other officials to "strengthen the friendship between the two countries," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said.

The Cambodian delegation could push for increased investment between the neighbors, the spokesman, Sin Bunthoeun, said, adding that most of Vietnam's current investments in Cambodia are agricultural.

Vietnam's investments in Cambodia are mostly rubber cultivation, said Hang Chuon Narong, secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance.

"Investment of Vietnam in Cambodia is small, but Vietnam is one of the big trade partners with Camboodia," he said.

Two-way trade between the two countries reaches about $600 million per year, he said. Cambodia exports rubber, corn, beans and cigarettes to Vietnam, while importing construction materials, packaged food and other goods.

Independent economist Sok Sina noted predicted the already good trade between the two was likely to increase further, thanks to their proximity to each other and a prolonged period of good relations.

Shortly after he took the throne in 2004, Sihamoni traveled to Vietnam, Vietnamese embassy spokesman Trinh Ba Cam said.

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