Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
US cambodia economic and trade relations
Since the resumption of diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1992, the United States
has been at the forefront of Cambodian development. In 1996, President Clinton signed a
bill formally extending Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to Cambodia. The US
Government subsequently designated Cambodia as a beneficiary under the Generalized
System of Preferences (GSP) in 1997. In 1999, Cambodia and the US signed a Bilateral
Textile Agreement (BTA), a unique agreement that links labor standards to trade.
The BTA has been an unqualified success. It has boosted Cambodia’s image as a laborfriendly
country and contributed significantly to its economic development by generating
employment for over 250,000, mostly rural women, as well as providing significant
amounts of foreign exchange. The BTA is responsible for a robust and booming garment
industry with exports of $1.6 billion in 2003, representing some 40% of Cambodia’s
nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 73% of Cambodia’s total exports.
The US has been Cambodia’s single largest trading partner by far since 1998. Exports to
the US totaled $1.5 billion in 2004, accounting for at least 70% of Cambodia’s total
exports and over 35% of Cambodia’s entire GDP. US exports to the Cambodia have
been minuscule in comparison, albeit increasing from approximately $20 million in 1999
to $59 million in 2004.
The US is the second largest bilateral donor to Cambodia after Japan. Assistance from
the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reached $57 million in 2004
and is expected the exceed $55 million in 2005, the highest levels in more than a decade.
During the 1990s, USAID rebuilt highway number 4 connecting Phnom Penh to the port
city of Sihanoukville. More recently, the focus has been on three major areas--good
health; good education; and good governance. More than half of all USAID assistance is
devoted to health. This includes significant funding for HIV/AIDS, where U.S.
assistance accounts for roughly half of all international assistance in this important area.
While Cambodia still has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalency rate in South East Asia, this
rate declined by more than one-third, from more than 3 percent five years ago to less than
2 percent today.
Tourism is another major sector of the Cambodian economy. In 2004, the number tourist
of arrivals reached a record high of 1 million tourists, generating approximately $511
million in revenue. Since 1997, the United States has consistently been one of the top
three providers of tourists to Cambodia. In 2004, the United Stated ranked third after
Korea and Japan. The number of tourists from the US reached a record high of some 100
000.
Despite a long-term decline in overall foreign direct investment (FDI) in Cambodia, the
US is still one of the major investors in terms of the cumulative amount of the foreign
direct investment, ranking third behind Taiwan and Malaysia in FDI. Major US
businesses in Cambodia include Caltex, ChevronTexaco, Coca Cola, Unocal, Conoco,
Jupiter, Northbridge and R.M. Asia.
Although since 1997 the US government has limited direct assistance to the Cambodian
government, the economic and trade role of the US remains influential.
The US trade balance with Cambodia has been in a deficit
since 1997. The deficit jumped from $84 million in 1997 to $794
million in 2000. In 2003, US imports from Cambodia reached
$1.2 billion, of which the garment industry accounted for 85.4%.
Exports to Cambodia have increased slightly since 1998. In
2004, US imports from Cambodia was $1.497 billion, accounting for
70% of Cambodia’s total exports. Cumulatively, the US is among the top three foreign investors in Cambodia at some $500 million. However, the overall investment picture in Cambodia, including FDI from the U.S. as shown on the left, has been quite modest since 1998.
In 2004, US FDI in Cambodia was $2.4 million. The number of US travelers to Cambodia has been increasing since 1998 albeit with a slight decline in 2003 due to war in Iraq
and SARS. The number of US tourist arrivals was 79,363 (11%
of total) in 2002 and 66,123 in 2003. In 2004, the US remained one of the largest tourism markets for Cambodia with nearly
100,000 arrivals, ranking third
after Korea and Japan.
US assistance to Cambodia comes from several sources. USAID plays a lead role but a number of other US departments and agencies are also involved, including the Center for Disease Control, the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Agriculture. With regard to USAID specifically, annual funding levels have
increased substantially in recent years,
from less than $30 million in 2001 to
more than $55 million in 2004 and
again in 2005. At this point, the United
States is the second largest bilateral
donor in Cambodia after Japan. The
US also makes important contributions
to the various multilateral donor
agencies working in Cambodia,
including the IMF, ADB, World Bank
and the various UN Agencies.
new step in bilateral relations between US and Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The United States will deliver 31 used trucks to Cambodia, its first direct supply of military hardware there since Washington lifted an embargo three years ago.
The U.S. Embassy said Friday that the 31 GMC cargo trucks — part of a group of 60 the U.S. military has agreed to give to Cambodia — will be handed over at a ceremony Monday.
The U.S. halted military assistance to Cambodia following a 1997 coup in which Hun Sen grabbed full power after ousting his co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Hun Sen remains prime minister.
In August 2005, President Bush waived the ban, citing Phnom Penh's agreement to exempt Americans in Cambodia from prosecution by the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court.
Since direct military ties between the two countries were restored in 2006, the U.S. has pledged nearly $3.2 million in military aid to Cambodia, the embassy said in a statement.
It said the 31 trucks are "the first deliverables" under a U.S. program for "assisting Cambodia in its efforts to improve" its border security, mobility and peacekeeping operations.
It added that the U.S. military is spending $413,000 on processing, packaging and shipping all 60 vehicles — "excess defense articles no longer needed by the U.S. armed forces."
Reflections:
US has increased its influence in Cambodia since the late 1990s. Cambodia is a tug of war between China and the US given its strategic location in Southeast Asia. To reduce the present Chinese influence in East Asia in general and Cambodia in particular, the US has exerted every measures from humanitarian assistance to military cooperation in the region. The main challenge for Cambodia is how to balance its foreign policy towards China and the US??
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Vietnamese tourists top 3 in Cambodia
More Vietnamese travellers go to Cambodia
HA NOI — Cambodia in the first four months of this year welcomed more than 80,000 Vietnamese visitors, an increase of 97 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon.
Khon said he supported the proposed tourism co-operation and joint venture plans between Lam Dong province and Cambodian localities during a meeting with a Lam Dong province delegation in Phnom Penh on May 27.
The new figures bring Viet Nam to third place, following the Republic of Korea and Japan, in terms of the number of visitors to Cambodia, an advance from the fourth and the sixth position in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
In the first four months of this year, Viet Nam also hosted around 50,000 Cambodian visitors, up 80 per cent from the same period of last year.
HA NOI — Cambodia in the first four months of this year welcomed more than 80,000 Vietnamese visitors, an increase of 97 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon.
Khon said he supported the proposed tourism co-operation and joint venture plans between Lam Dong province and Cambodian localities during a meeting with a Lam Dong province delegation in Phnom Penh on May 27.
The new figures bring Viet Nam to third place, following the Republic of Korea and Japan, in terms of the number of visitors to Cambodia, an advance from the fourth and the sixth position in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
In the first four months of this year, Viet Nam also hosted around 50,000 Cambodian visitors, up 80 per cent from the same period of last year.
Cambodia reexports rice
Industry hails lifting of ban on Cambodian rice exports
Agence France-PresseFirst Posted 15:59:00 05/28/2008
Industry experts hailed Cambodia's decision to become the first country to lift a ban on rice exports, saying the move would benefit local farmers and could help dampen global prices of the grain.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday lifted the ban on rice exports, which he enacted in late March in a bid to halt the staple food's spiraling price.
The move could lead to other rice producers like Vietnam and India also lifting their bans on rice exports, said Sushil Pandey, senior agricultural economist at the International Rice Research Institute in Manila.
"It is a careful balancing act," Pandey said. "I wouldn't say (the export bans) are over, because every country doesn't want to export unless they can ensure a low price for domestic consumers."
The Cambodian move, Pandey said, takes advantage of high prices just before the next rice harvest, and could have an effect on global prices.
"As export volume comes into the marketplace, surely that will have a dampening effect on prices," he said.
"Ultimately, how it plays out will depend on what the harvest will be -- what the season plays out in terms of drought and flood."
Cambodian economist Sok Sina said the move would raise the local price of rice in impoverished Cambodia, but it was still the right thing to do.
"We should not keep the surplus of rice. Especially, when the (international) price is high -- we will benefit from it," he said.
Cambodia produced some 6.7 million tons of rice last year with a surplus of 2.3 million tons which can be exported. Hun Sen said the government would allow the export of about 1.6 million tons of rice.
Phou Puy, the president of the Cambodian National Rice Millers Association, said the lifting of the ban would benefit the country's rice millers and farmers, who need both the local and international markets to do well.
"We support the government policy. It is the right decision," said Phou Puy.
Rice prices have skyrocketed by around 76 percent between last December and April, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Rice Price Index.
Experts blame the trend on higher energy and fertilizer costs, greater global demand, droughts, the loss of rice farmland to bio fuel plantations, and price speculation.
To avoid food scarcities in their own countries, major rice exporters have imposed export bans, taxes or caps.
These measures have further restricted the availability of supplies on international markets, triggering yet more price rises and fears of rice shortages in developing countries.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Cambodia-China
I. Political Relations
China and Cambodia enjoy time-honored traditional friendship. They established diplomatic relations on July 19, 1958. Chinese leaders of different generations have been very close to King Sihanouk and cultivated profound friendship with him, thus laying a solid foundation for long-standing and stable development of Sino-Cambodian relations. During the 1950s and 1960s, Premier Zhou Enlai and President Liu Shaoqi visited Cambodia many a time, while Prince Sihanouk visited China 6 times. Between 1970s and 1980s, Prince Sihanouk had two long stays in China, to lead the Cambodian people's struggle against the foreign aggression and for national independence and sovereignty and won full support of the Chinese Government and People.
Since 1990s, Sino-Cambodian relations have entered a new phase of development. Leaders of the two countries maintained frequent contacts and exchanges of visits. President Jiang Zemin, Chairman of the CPPCC Li Ruihuan and Premier Zhu Rongji visited Cambodia respectively. King of Cambodia Sihanouk, President of the Chea Sim, President of National Assembly Ranariddh and Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China one after another.
In November 2000, President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Cambodia. Both sides signed the Joint Statement on bilateral cooperation, confirming further development of closer and stable traditional, neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries in the new century.
In November 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji visited Cambodia. The leaders of the two countries agreed to take agriculture, development of human resources and infrastrutural construction as key areas for cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese Government declared that all the overdue Cambodian debts would be exempted.
King Sihanouk and the Government of Kingdom of Cambodia abide by one China policy and support the peaceful unification cause of the Chinese people.
The two countries continue to strengthen friendly cooperation in the economic, trade, cultural, educational and military fields, coordinate and cooperate with each other closely over international and regional issues.
II. Economic and Trade Relations
Recent years have seen fast development of economic and trade relations between China and Cambodia, and the areas for cooperation kept expanding. In 1996, the two countries signed the agreement on trade, investment promotion and protection, and in 2000 set up an economic and trade cooperation committee.
In 2002, Sino-Cambodian trade volume reached US$ 0.27 billion, up 15% from 2001. China's exports to Cambodia are textiles, steels, electric device, metals machinery and building materials and its imports from Cambodia are rubber, plywood, panels and furniture.
Up to June 2002, China had invested over 100 projects in Cambodia, with its contractual sum worth US$ 0.3 billion-ranking the 4th place of foreign investment in Cambodia. Its major areas for investment are infrastructural construction, agricultural development, garment-processing and hospital-building.
In order to help Cambodia with its post-war reconstruction, China has provided Cambodia with a certain amount of economic aid.
III. Exchanges and Cooperation in Other Areas
Over the recent years, China and Cambodia have seen continuous expansion of contacts and cooperation in various areas. They have signed agreements on cooperation in culture, tourism and agriculture, and there were exchanges of visits between the parliaments, armies, press, and health of the two countries.
The foreign ministers of the two countries have maintained good cooperative relations, and established the mechanism for diplomatic consultation. Cambodia has opened its consulates-general in Guangzhou and Shanghai. In June 2003, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Cambodia, exchanged in-depth views with Cambodian leaders on strengthening neighborliness and friendship, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and the international and regional issues of common concern, and reached broad consensus.
Sino-Cambodian military relations have developed steadily. Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Wannian and Chi Haotian as well as Chief of General Staff Fu Quanyou visited Cambodia respectively. Cambodian United Defence Minister Tea Bank, Prince Sisowath Sirirath commander-in-chief of Royal Army Ke Kim Yan and his deputy Khong Kim visited China one after another.
Cambodia-Japan
Joint Statementon the New Partnership Between Japan and Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Royal Government of Cambodia paid an official visit to Japan, June 13 through 16, 2007 at the invitation of the Government of Japan. During his visit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Hun Sen held a summit meeting on June 14, 2007, and issued this statement:
We reaffirm the strong ties and mutual trust that have been nurtured between Japan and Cambodia through our history of cooperation. Cambodia praises Japan's active role in realizing peace and prosperity around the world. It also expresses its deep gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their substantial contributions to the peace process and the post-conflict reconstruction of Cambodia, including their support for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) peace-keeping operations. Japan commends Cambodia for realizing peace, advancing national reconstruction, achieving rapid economic growth, and beginning to play a broader role in the international community. We take pride in our cooperation in the peace building and national reconstruction in Cambodia, which offers a successful model to the world.
The partnership between our two countries has entered a new phase. We are determined to further strengthen our bilateral relationship and address regional and global challenges together.
Realizing fundamental values
We reaffirm the importance of fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, basic human rights and the rule of law, and welcome Cambodia's steadfast progress toward realizing these values. Elections in Cambodia have come to be conducted in a fairer and freer manner. Japan will continue assistance to strengthen democracy in Cambodia.
We welcome the official establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for prosecuting crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international humanitarian law during the period of Democratic Kampuchea. Cambodia appreciates Japan's contribution to the trials by providing more than 21 million USD and sending a judge to the Supreme Court Chamber. We hope that the trials will proceed promptly and fairly to achieve justice and national reconciliation in Cambodia.
Cambodia appreciates Japan's assistance in drafting the Civil Code and the Civil Procedure Code and will further try to develop its legal system. Japan will continue to assist Cambodia in fields related to the rule of law, which is a prerequisite for sustaining human security in the country.
Enhancing Economic Relations
Cambodia appreciates the important role of Japan's official development assistance in the sustainable development and poverty reduction in Cambodia. Japan highly values Cambodia's efforts for national development under the "Rectangular Strategy" and will continue to assist such efforts. Cambodia is committed to effective and efficient use of the assistance. We welcome the signing of the Notes on the project for Flood Protection and Drainage Improvement in the Municipality of Phnom Penh (Phase II) and the project for Human Resource Development Scholarship.
Trade and investment are important for the sustainable economic growth in Cambodia. We welcome the signing of the Agreement between Japan and the Kingdom of Cambodia for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment, and hope that Japan's investments in Cambodia will be promoted by this Agreement. Japan will send a business mission composed of both government and private sector representatives to Cambodia. Cambodia will make the utmost efforts to realize a more favorable investment environment including the enhancement of special economic zones.
We believe that a more integrated regional economy will contribute to sustainable development in Cambodia. Cambodia highly values Japan's support for the Mekong Region Development, including assistance for the "Development Triangle", and welcomes the Japan-Mekong Region Partnership Program. Japan's assistance related to the "Second East-West Economic Corridor" as well as the "Cambodia Growth Corridor" has been enhancing the regional network. We will expeditiously proceed toward the construction of the Second Mekong Bridge at Neak Loeung as a top priority. Cambodia will effectively use the infrastructure established with Japan's aid by promoting such reforms as harmonization of customs procedures and mutual recognition of vehicles for cross-border transportation.
Promoting Mutual Understanding
Mutual understanding enhanced through people-to-people exchanges is a basis for a close relationship between our two countries. Japan has supported human capacity building in Cambodia by sending experts including Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) and by accepting Cambodian students and trainees. Japan's NGOs implemented humanitarian assistance in Cambodia even before the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991. Based on such experiences, we will have more frequent high-level visits and expand people-to-people exchanges.
Japan will aim to invite more than 1,000 Cambodian youths to Japan in the coming five years under various programs including the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Program. We hope that Cambodian students who study in Japan or learn Japanese will play a more active role in various fields in Cambodia.
We believe that an increase in tourists from Japan to Cambodia will enhance mutual understanding and promote Cambodian development. We will cooperate actively to preserve the Angkor Monuments. Japan, as co-chair of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor, will continue its assistance in the preservation and restoration work. Cambodia will pursue harmonized development in Siem Reap Province by taking into account the impacts of increased tourism.
Addressing regional and global challenges
ASEAN plays an important role in regional cooperation in East Asia. Cambodia appreciates Japan's continued support for ASEAN integration as well as Japan's initiative in the East Asia Summit and other regional cooperation frameworks. We welcome the recent progress in the negotiation of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, particularly in that the ASEAN and Japanese Economic Ministers confirmed that ASEAN and Japan mutually accepted the modalities in principle.
Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, we fully support the Six Party Talks and swift implementation of the agreement reached at the Six-Party Talks on February 13, 2007, as a first step towards full implementation of the Joint Statement of September 19, 2005, in good faith. We emphasize the importance of steadily implementing United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718. We hope that progress will be made in the talks between Japan and North Korea on bilateral issues. We stress the importance of resolving the abduction issue as early as possible, and will cooperate on this issue. Cambodia will support the next United Nations General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in North Korea, and Japan highly appreciates this decision.
We will actively work together to realize an early reform of the United Nations Security Council through the expansion of both its permanent and non-permanent membership. Japan appreciates Cambodia's continuous support for Japan as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which has been repeatedly stated at the UN and other International conferences, as well as during the summit meeting between Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam and Japan, held in Vientiane in 2004. In this regard, Cambodia reiterates its strong support for a broader and more active role of Japan in the International Organizations.
Cambodia praises Japan for its initiative in promoting human security by showing leadership in addressing various cross-border issues such as poverty, infectious diseases, environment, peace-building, disarmament, non-proliferation, human trafficking, and illicit narcotic drugs. Japan highly values Cambodia's contribution to promoting world peace by participating in the Sudanese PKO and addressing problems of landmines and small arms in other conflicting countries such as Afghanistan, based on its own experience. It will assist Cambodia's efforts through the recently launched initiative for human resource development in peace-building. We will further strengthen cooperation on these global agenda.
We reaffirm the importance of global environment issues, in particular climate change. Cambodia appreciates Japan's recent proposal on climate change "Cool Earth 50", and supports the idea to set a long-term target of cutting global emissions by half from the current level by 2050 as a common goal for the entire world. We will actively cooperate in accordance with the proposal in establishing an effective international framework to address global warming beyond 2012 in which all major emitting countries participate.
Tokyo, June 14, 2007
Shinzo ABEPrime Minister of Japan
HUN SenPrime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Royal Government of Cambodia paid an official visit to Japan, June 13 through 16, 2007 at the invitation of the Government of Japan. During his visit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Hun Sen held a summit meeting on June 14, 2007, and issued this statement:
We reaffirm the strong ties and mutual trust that have been nurtured between Japan and Cambodia through our history of cooperation. Cambodia praises Japan's active role in realizing peace and prosperity around the world. It also expresses its deep gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their substantial contributions to the peace process and the post-conflict reconstruction of Cambodia, including their support for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) peace-keeping operations. Japan commends Cambodia for realizing peace, advancing national reconstruction, achieving rapid economic growth, and beginning to play a broader role in the international community. We take pride in our cooperation in the peace building and national reconstruction in Cambodia, which offers a successful model to the world.
The partnership between our two countries has entered a new phase. We are determined to further strengthen our bilateral relationship and address regional and global challenges together.
Realizing fundamental values
We reaffirm the importance of fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, basic human rights and the rule of law, and welcome Cambodia's steadfast progress toward realizing these values. Elections in Cambodia have come to be conducted in a fairer and freer manner. Japan will continue assistance to strengthen democracy in Cambodia.
We welcome the official establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for prosecuting crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international humanitarian law during the period of Democratic Kampuchea. Cambodia appreciates Japan's contribution to the trials by providing more than 21 million USD and sending a judge to the Supreme Court Chamber. We hope that the trials will proceed promptly and fairly to achieve justice and national reconciliation in Cambodia.
Cambodia appreciates Japan's assistance in drafting the Civil Code and the Civil Procedure Code and will further try to develop its legal system. Japan will continue to assist Cambodia in fields related to the rule of law, which is a prerequisite for sustaining human security in the country.
Enhancing Economic Relations
Cambodia appreciates the important role of Japan's official development assistance in the sustainable development and poverty reduction in Cambodia. Japan highly values Cambodia's efforts for national development under the "Rectangular Strategy" and will continue to assist such efforts. Cambodia is committed to effective and efficient use of the assistance. We welcome the signing of the Notes on the project for Flood Protection and Drainage Improvement in the Municipality of Phnom Penh (Phase II) and the project for Human Resource Development Scholarship.
Trade and investment are important for the sustainable economic growth in Cambodia. We welcome the signing of the Agreement between Japan and the Kingdom of Cambodia for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment, and hope that Japan's investments in Cambodia will be promoted by this Agreement. Japan will send a business mission composed of both government and private sector representatives to Cambodia. Cambodia will make the utmost efforts to realize a more favorable investment environment including the enhancement of special economic zones.
We believe that a more integrated regional economy will contribute to sustainable development in Cambodia. Cambodia highly values Japan's support for the Mekong Region Development, including assistance for the "Development Triangle", and welcomes the Japan-Mekong Region Partnership Program. Japan's assistance related to the "Second East-West Economic Corridor" as well as the "Cambodia Growth Corridor" has been enhancing the regional network. We will expeditiously proceed toward the construction of the Second Mekong Bridge at Neak Loeung as a top priority. Cambodia will effectively use the infrastructure established with Japan's aid by promoting such reforms as harmonization of customs procedures and mutual recognition of vehicles for cross-border transportation.
Promoting Mutual Understanding
Mutual understanding enhanced through people-to-people exchanges is a basis for a close relationship between our two countries. Japan has supported human capacity building in Cambodia by sending experts including Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) and by accepting Cambodian students and trainees. Japan's NGOs implemented humanitarian assistance in Cambodia even before the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991. Based on such experiences, we will have more frequent high-level visits and expand people-to-people exchanges.
Japan will aim to invite more than 1,000 Cambodian youths to Japan in the coming five years under various programs including the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Program. We hope that Cambodian students who study in Japan or learn Japanese will play a more active role in various fields in Cambodia.
We believe that an increase in tourists from Japan to Cambodia will enhance mutual understanding and promote Cambodian development. We will cooperate actively to preserve the Angkor Monuments. Japan, as co-chair of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor, will continue its assistance in the preservation and restoration work. Cambodia will pursue harmonized development in Siem Reap Province by taking into account the impacts of increased tourism.
Addressing regional and global challenges
ASEAN plays an important role in regional cooperation in East Asia. Cambodia appreciates Japan's continued support for ASEAN integration as well as Japan's initiative in the East Asia Summit and other regional cooperation frameworks. We welcome the recent progress in the negotiation of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, particularly in that the ASEAN and Japanese Economic Ministers confirmed that ASEAN and Japan mutually accepted the modalities in principle.
Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, we fully support the Six Party Talks and swift implementation of the agreement reached at the Six-Party Talks on February 13, 2007, as a first step towards full implementation of the Joint Statement of September 19, 2005, in good faith. We emphasize the importance of steadily implementing United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1695 and 1718. We hope that progress will be made in the talks between Japan and North Korea on bilateral issues. We stress the importance of resolving the abduction issue as early as possible, and will cooperate on this issue. Cambodia will support the next United Nations General Assembly resolution on the situation of human rights in North Korea, and Japan highly appreciates this decision.
We will actively work together to realize an early reform of the United Nations Security Council through the expansion of both its permanent and non-permanent membership. Japan appreciates Cambodia's continuous support for Japan as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which has been repeatedly stated at the UN and other International conferences, as well as during the summit meeting between Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam and Japan, held in Vientiane in 2004. In this regard, Cambodia reiterates its strong support for a broader and more active role of Japan in the International Organizations.
Cambodia praises Japan for its initiative in promoting human security by showing leadership in addressing various cross-border issues such as poverty, infectious diseases, environment, peace-building, disarmament, non-proliferation, human trafficking, and illicit narcotic drugs. Japan highly values Cambodia's contribution to promoting world peace by participating in the Sudanese PKO and addressing problems of landmines and small arms in other conflicting countries such as Afghanistan, based on its own experience. It will assist Cambodia's efforts through the recently launched initiative for human resource development in peace-building. We will further strengthen cooperation on these global agenda.
We reaffirm the importance of global environment issues, in particular climate change. Cambodia appreciates Japan's recent proposal on climate change "Cool Earth 50", and supports the idea to set a long-term target of cutting global emissions by half from the current level by 2050 as a common goal for the entire world. We will actively cooperate in accordance with the proposal in establishing an effective international framework to address global warming beyond 2012 in which all major emitting countries participate.
Tokyo, June 14, 2007
Shinzo ABEPrime Minister of Japan
HUN SenPrime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Cambodia-Vietnam
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080507163104
In 2006-07, the value of goods exchanged between the two countries increased 30 percent. Last year, Vietnam earned 991 million USD from exports to Cambodia and imports came in at 202 million USD. Trade between the two countries is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2010.
Vietnam’s direct investment in Cambodia
In 2006-07, the value of goods exchanged between the two countries increased 30 percent. Last year, Vietnam earned 991 million USD from exports to Cambodia and imports came in at 202 million USD. Trade between the two countries is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2010.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080228102928
Viet Nam, Cambodia meet on border cooperation
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung arrived in Cambodia on February 27 to attend and co-chair the fourth Viet Nam-Cambodia meeting on development cooperation in border provinces held in Sihanoukville from Feb. 27-28. After an official welcome ceremony, Deputy PM Hung exchanged views at a closed session with Cambodian Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on Viet Nam-Cambodia bilateral ties and cooperation between border sharing provinces. In the evening, Deputy PM Sar Kheng hosted a banquet for Deputy PM Hung and his delegation. At a senior officials meeting (SOM) held the same day, the two sides reviewed their cooperation in implementing agreements reached at the third meeting, which was held in Viet Nam’s An Giang province in 2006. They discussed measures to promote cooperation between border provinces in security, economy, culture, education, vocational training and health care. The two sides approved contents of documents which will be presented at a plenary session on February 28.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/cn_vakv/ca_tbd/nr040824144816/ns050131104651
VIETNAM – CAMBODIA RELATIONS
1. Political Relations:
Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1967.The relationship between the two countries is unceasingly consolidated and developed in all fields. The two countries have exchanged many high level delegations.
a. Vietnamese leaders’ visits to Cambodia:
Top leaders of Vietnam such as General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, President Le Duc Anh and President Tran Duc Luong have visited Cambodia; Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk (now former King) have also visited Vietnam. Notably, during General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to Cambodia in March 2005, the two countries agreed to the guidelines of developing the relations between the two countries in the new stage as follows: “long-lasting and stable bonds of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation”. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai paid an official visit to Cambodia from 6-7 July 2006 and signed some more cooperation agreements, thus contributing to bringing the relations between the two countries to a new height.
Other important visits paid by Vietnamese leaders to Cambodia include Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit to Cambodia (21-23 September 2006); Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Cambodia (December 2006); President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Cambodia (27 February- 1 March 2007); National Assembly President Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Cambodia (25-28 April 2007); and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem’s visit to Cambodia (20 – 22 August 2007).
b. Cambodian leaders’ visits to Vietnam:
Prime Minister Samdech Hunsen’s visit to Vietnam in October 2005 during which the Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985 was concluded; National Assembly President Heng Samrin’s visit to Vietnam (6 – 11 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong’s visit to Vietnam (23 – 24 October 2006).
2. In the fields of Economics, Science, Technology and Culture:
Cooperation in the fields of security and national defence has been increasingly consolidated and developed. The Governments of the two countries have made a sound decision to sign the complementary agreement on the 1985 Treaty to settle the long-standing border issues in order to build a peaceful borderline, forming a significant foundation for the future of the two countries. In this spirit, the inauguration of the border marker at the Ba Vat-Moc Bai international border gate was held on 27 September, 2006 and witnessed by the two Prime Ministers. The border marker planting is scheduled to finish in 2008.
The trade and economic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia are continuing to flourish, matching the two countries’ political relations and potentials. The two-way trade turnover grows by about 40% annually, reaching US $950 million in 2006, and is expected to increase to US $2 billion by 2010. Vietnam currently ranks third among Cambodia’s trading partners from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and sixth among countries establishing economic ties with Cambodia.
In addition to the bilateral relationship, as members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the two countries have enhanced cooperation and mutual assistance within the framework of international and regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations, the Francophone, the Cambodia-Viet Nam-Laos Development Triangle, the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC), the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam cooperation (CLMV) frameworks. The two nations have regularly exchanged views and coordinated their activities at international and regional fora. Furthermore, the two countries have fulfilled their international tasks in protecting environment and combating terrorism as well as seeking peaceful solutions to all issues and realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
(12/2007)
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos talk to boost trade
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The second conference to boost investment and trade in the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam development triangle opened in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia on February 16.During the two-day conference, representatives from the three countries will review the implementation of the projects to develop the area, which were agreed at the first conference in Viet Nam, and discuss measures to encourage investors of the three countries and foreign companies to pour capital into the triangle.The Vietnamese delegation to the conference was headed by Deputy Minister of the Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat.The delegation comprised representatives from the ministries of trade and industry; agriculture and rural development; finance; labour, war invalids and social affairs, public security, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong provinces and relevant agencies.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105039/ns080218163929
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos talk to boost trade
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The second conference to boost investment and trade in the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam development triangle opened in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia on February 16.During the two-day conference, representatives from the three countries will review the implementation of the projects to develop the area, which were agreed at the first conference in Viet Nam, and discuss measures to encourage investors of the three countries and foreign companies to pour capital into the triangle.The Vietnamese delegation to the conference was headed by Deputy Minister of the Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat.The delegation comprised representatives from the ministries of trade and industry; agriculture and rural development; finance; labour, war invalids and social affairs, public security, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong provinces and relevant agencies.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080218162445
Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia meet on development triangle
Phnom Penh (VNA)- Strong pledges were made at a two-day meeting on trade and investment promotion into the “Development Triangle” comprising 10 border provinces of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia concluded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17. Pledges showed the three countries’ resolve to boost investment into the region, strengthen internal link and put into full use potential and available resources of each and every province for economic development, especially production of commodities. “No stone will be left unturned so as to reach the goal for high and sustainable economic growth ratified by the Prime Ministers of the three countries in Vientiane , Laos , on November 28, 2004,” they said in an agreement. The Vietnamese head delegate, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat, said the country has issued open policies, offered numerous stimuli and upgraded infrastructure facilities to boost investment from the three countries as well as other countries into the Vietnamese provinces lying in the “Development Triangle.” “The Vietnamese Government has also taken measures to encourage domestic investors to invest in Lao and Cambodian provinces lying in the Development Triangle,” he added. The meeting, the second of its kind to date, was marked with a speech by Senior Minister and Trade Minister of Cambodia Cham Prasith. He emphasised the important role played by the “Development Triangle of Cambodia , Laos and Viet Nam ” in the socio-economic development of each province in the region and the common future of the three countries as well. He said the conference would be a good opportunity for businesses and authorities from the three countries’ provinces sharing the borderline to promote trade and investment so as to turn the “Development Triangle” into a region of socio-economically sustainable development. The meeting drew in over 100 businesses, plus authorities, from the three countries who shared experiences and informed each other with their own countries’ policies and stimuli for foreign investment. The region has been highly evaluated for its great potential in hydro-power industry, mining, industrial crops growing and processing, and tourism.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105039/ns071105145811
Vietnam to help Cambodia open stock exchange
The Vietnam State Securities Commission (SSC) has announced it would help Cambodian officials open the country's first stock exchange by 2009.
Leaders from the commission met with Cambodian officials from financial and economic ministries, as well from the Cambodian central bank late last month in Vietnam.
SSC chairman Vu Bang said the commission would provide valuable management experience to the neighboring country's counterparts.
In September, a Lao government delegation had visited Vietnam's Hanoi Stock Trading Center to learn from the experiences of the two-year-old market's managers.
Laos and Cambodia are the only countries in ASEAN without a stock exchange.
Vietnam opened its first stock exchange in 2000 by inaugurating the Ho Chi Minh City
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105039/ns071015153832
Vietnamese goods on display in Phnom Penh
A fair of high-quality Vietnamese goods and exports opened in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh on October 13, attracting the participation of 110 producers and 50 exporters.
Addressing the event, Cambodian Trade Minister Cham Prasit said in the first eight months of this year, two-way trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia reached 790 million USD and Viet Nam’s total investment doubled the level of 2006 to hit the mark of 114 million USD.
The minister added, however, that the figures were far below the potential for cooperation between the two countries.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang said as the two countries are both members of the World Trade Organisation, they enjoy good conditions to boost their bilateral cooperation within the regional and international frameworks.
During the trade fair, scheduled to run till October 17, various trade exchange activities between businesses of the two sides will be held in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.-(VNA)
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns070828084306
VN, Cambodia target two-way trade turnover of US$ 1 bil. late 2007
The 9th session of the Việt Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held on August 20-21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Vietnamese delegation was headed by Deputy PM, Foreign Minister Phạm Gia Khiêm, Chairman of the Vietnamese Subcommittee while the Cambodian delegation was led by Deputy PM, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong, Chairman of the Cambodian Subcommittee.
The two sides agreed to focus on cooperation in the fields of high potentialities and high profits, including education-training, infrastructure construction, trade-investment, energy, transport, health, mining, oil and gas, industrial crop planting, and marine products processing. They also reached consensus in increasing bilateral commercial promotion in order to raise the two-way trade turnover to US$ 1 billion by late 2007.
The Joint Committee decided to speed up the planting of border markers to finish this work before 2008.
The two sides agreed to closely cooperate in national defense and security, fighting against trans-national crimes, and conducting joint patrols of naval forces. The two countries confirmed their principle of permitting no force to use their territories for destructive activities against the other country. In this spirit, the two sides agreed to kick off negotiations on an agreement of criminal extradition.
Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong signed an agreement of the 9th session.
The 10th session of the Joint Committee is scheduled in 2008 in Việt Nam./.(VNGOP)
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns060706095454/view
Viet Nam-Cambodia cooperation thriving
(VNA) - The Viet Nam-Cambodia bilateral ties, set up in June 1967, have developed in line with the principles mentioned by the Viet Nam-Cambodia joint communiques issued on Jan. 25, 1992 and in 1995.
Viet Nam and Cambodia defined orientations for bilateral cooperation in the 21st century as "good neighbourliness, traditional solidarity and friendship and long-term stability." during the visit to Cambodia in June 1999 by General Secretary Le Kha Phieu of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.Both countries have increased the exchange of high-level visits, including the visits to Viet Nam by Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk, Senate President Samdech Chea Sim, Prime Minister Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihamoni and the visits to Cambodia by Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An.The two sides have signed a number of cooperation documents. They include the supplementary treaty to the Viet Nam-Cambodia Border Delimitation Treaty signed in 1985, a cultural cooperation plan, a protocol on the implementation of the Viet Nam-Cambodia road traffic agreement, an agreement of granting credits to upgrade a section of Highway 78 from Ban Lung to O Yadav in Cambodian province of Rattanakiri, a cooperation agreement on the trafficking of women and children and supporting those victims, and a memorandum of understanding on an agreement to facilitate cross-border goods transportation along the Moc Bai and Ba Vet border gates.On May 26, 2006, Viet Nam and Cambodia signed the minutes on a document approving the Viet Nam-Cambodia consular agreement. This is the second one that Viet Nam has signed with other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).In the field of security and national defence, Viet Nam and Cambodia signed an Agreement on Historical Common Territorial Waters in July 1982. One year later, the two countries inked a Treaty on Principles to Resolve Border Issues and an Agreement on Border Statute. In December 1985, the two sides signed an Agreement on National Border Demarcation.Trade relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia have steadily been on the upturn, with an average 30 percent growth of the two-way trade turnover per year. Viet Nam is now Cambodia's third largest partner, after Thailand and Singapore, exporting mainly farm products, food, plastic and aluminum wares to Cambodia. Meanwhile, Cambodia exports rubber and forest products to Viet Nam.In terms of investment, Vietnamese enterprises have so far poured 25 million USD into projects in Cambodia, mostly in the fields of garments and textiles, and construction materials production. By the end of December 2005, Cambodian investors had invested in four projects in Viet Nam with a combined operational capital of 4 million USD.Substantial achievements can also be seen in tourism cooperation between the two countries. In 2005, Viet Nam received around 245,000 Cambodian tourists, doubling the figure of 2004.Viet Nam and Cambodia have also agreed to boost their cooperation in education, healthcare, and social welfare sectors. The two sides have signed a 2006-2010 Protocol on Education and Training Cooperation. In 2004, Ho Chi Minh City funded the construction of a 20 million USD hospital in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh.At present, around 100,000 Vietnamese people are living in Cambodia. Since its establishment in 2003, the Vietnamese Community in Cambodia has made appreciable contributions to their native country. On June 5, Vietnamese nationals in Cambodia raised 1,800 USD as relief for Typhoon Chanchu victims in central Viet Nam. In the first five months of 2006, they collected 8,400 USD to help build houses for poor people in An Giang and Dong Thap provinces, which share a common border with Cambodia./.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns060308095729/view
Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Statement
(VNA) - At the invitation of Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, His Excellency Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia, from 6 to 7 March 2006.
During his visit, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and his delegation were received by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also paid courtesy calls on Samdech Chea Sim, Chairman of the Senate and Samdech Heng Samrin, Acting Chairman of the National Assembly; and held official talks with the delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia led by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and the Vietnamese delegation laid wreaths at the Independence Monument and the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Memorial.
The official talks were conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two Prime Ministers briefed each other on the development efforts in their respective countries and reviewed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the great importance of the upcoming State visit by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from March 16 to 18 2006. The two leaders expressed their belief that this first-ever State visit to Viet Nam by His Majesty the King of Cambodia will give a new impetus for the concerted efforts of the two countries to deepen their ties of good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability.
The two Prime Ministers are convinced that the growing traditional friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two countries and peoples have been carried forward steadily for the future generations and reaffirmed their determination to consolidate and expand the good neighbourliness and close cooperation on the basis of principles as enshrined in the 2005 Joint Declaration during the visit of His Excellency Nong Duc Manh, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, to Cambodia, from March 28 to 30 2005, and the Joint Statement during the visit of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen to Viet Nam, from October 10 to 12 2005. The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam fully committed to respect each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial intergrity, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, non-use of force or threat to use force, as well as the non-allowance of any hostile force to use one’s territory to undermine the peace, security and stability of the other country.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his admiration for economic development achievements in all sectors recorded by the Vietnamese people as well as other successes in the DOI MOI process. The Royal Government of Cambodia also highly appreciated Viet Nam’s sound foreign policy and active engagement in regional and international organizations, including the successful hosting of the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Hanoi in 2004 as well as the upcoming hosting of the 14th APEC Summit to be held in Hanoi in November this year.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai acknowledged and warmly congratulated the great achievements of Cambodia in the pursuit of peace, national reconciliation policy, and in economic development in past few years, especially the success of the reform programmes, under the framework of the Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also noted with appreciation the enhanced role and posture of Cambodia in ASEAN and the wider region characterized by its growing integration into the region and the world. Prime Minister Phan Van khai wished the Cambodian people many greater successes in their efforts of building peaceful, independent, neutral, non-aligned and prosperous Cambodia.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai renewed on this occasion the deep gratitude to the Royal Family and the Leaders and people of Cambodia for their valuable support and assistance rendered to the Vietnamese people in the past and at present as well. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen also expressed Cambodia’s deep thank to the Government and people of Viet Nam for the wholehearted support extended to the Government and people of Cambodia for their liberation from the genocidal regime and for their current cause of socio-economic development.
The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation in recent years, particularly following the exchange of visits by the top leaders of the two countries in 2005.
The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the signing of the Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985, considering it as a cornerstone of the close relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their determination to implement the Treaty in order to make the Cambodia-Viet Nam border a frontier of peace, friendship, and cooperation. Both parties agreed to speed up the completion of land border demarcation as expeditiously as possible to meet the target as agreed in the Complementary Treaty. In this connection, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Vietnam's assistance to Produce Border Markers for Cambodia during this visit. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Government of the Socialist of Viet Nam for the generous gesture of friendship.
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Border Health Quarantine, the Cooperation Plan on Information and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Initial Implementation of the Agreement for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Goods and People at the Bavet – Moc Bai Border Crossing Points. The two leaders underscored the importance of these agreements in providing substantial benefits to businesses and travelers and further expanding bilateral economic linkages.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai agreed to continue creating favourable conditions for fair treatment of their citizens in each other’s territory, as any other foreign resident. The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam expressed its sincere gratitude to the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia for their kind permission to the Vietnamese residents to exercise their legal rights to lead a normal life and do business in Cambodia.
The two leaders agreed to continue their cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for strict implementation of the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2005 for the Settlement of Issues relating to the Vietnamese Central Highlands Ethnic Minority People illegally crossing the border into Cambodia.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai shared the view that the current process of globalization is widening the gaps between the rich and the poor in the world and thus agreed that there is an urgent need to narrow the development gaps. In this regard, they supported the call to the developed countries and the international financial institutions to cancel various debts of the least developing countries (LDCs) in order for them to channel their resources to fight poverty, combat the widespread infectious diseases such as avian influenza, HIV/AIDS and malaria, as well as to ensure sustainable development.
The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction that their two countries share common perceptions on major regional and international issues and the need to continue their close cooperation within the regional and multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations (UN), the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), Group 77 (G77), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Ayeyawady-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and East-West Corridor (WEC). The two leaders agreed to cooperate closely with Laos to step up the implementation of the Master Plan on the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle. In this regard, both Cambodia and Viet Nam expressed their thanks to Japan for providing assistance for the Development Triangle of Cambodia-Laos and Viet Nam.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai reiterated strong commitment of the two countries to work closely with other ASEAN member countries to speed up the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme, particularly the ASEAN Integration to meet the challenges of the building up the ASEAN Community and the deepening of partnership between ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai welcomed Cambodia's intention to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) the soonest possible once APEC lifts its moratorium on new membership. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, on the other hand, reiterated Cambodia’s support for Viet Nam's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the earliest possible date.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of close cooperation among the Mekong basin countries to ensure sustainable development of the countries concerned, especially those in the downstream. The two countries will actively contribute to the implementation of the Trans-Asia Highway project and the Singapore-Kunming Railway Link (SKRL), in particular on the missing link between Cambodia and Viet Nam, keeping in mind that the realization of these projects will greatly contribute to the development of the region.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai expressed his sincere appreciation to the Royal Government and People of Cambodia for the warmest and generous hospitality extended to the delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during their official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
His Excellency Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, extended a cordial invitation to Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to make an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his heartfelt gratitude and accepted the kind invitation with pleasure./.
Vietnam - Cambodia joint statement
VIETNAM - CAMBODIA JOINT STATEMENT
(Ha Noi - October 10, 2005)
----------
1. At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia paid an official friendship visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 10 to 12 October 2005.
2. During the visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and his delegation paid tribute to the late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and visited a number of cultural and economic establishments in Ha Noi. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen also paid courtesy calls on H.E. Mr. Nong Duc Manh, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and H.E. Mr. Nguyen Van An, President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On this occasion, H.E. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh reiterated his invitation to His Majesty the King of Cambodia Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni to pay a State visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Leaders and pledged to convey the invitation to His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni.
3. The Delegation of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam led by H.E. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai held official talks with the Delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia led by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual trust and understanding.
The two sides informed each other of the developments in each country, reviewed the bilateral relations of friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation in the recent past and focused discussions on concrete and practical measures to further promote comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the future. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
4. The Vietnamese side expressed its welcome and congratulations on the important achievements recorded by the Cambodian people under the reign of His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the Senate, National Assembly and the Royal Government led by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in their cause of national construction and development, which is characterized by an increasingly stable socio-political situation, continued economic development and enhanced position in the regional and international arena.
The Vietnamese side highly valued the special significance of the visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and his important role and efforts in and active contribution to the strengthening and development of all-round relations between the two countries. On the occasion of the visit, the Vietnamese side renewed its sincere gratitude to the Royal family, the Leaders and people of Cambodia for the fine sentiment and valuable assistance extended to the people of Vietnam in their cause of national liberation in the past and national construction at present.
The Vietnamese side reaffirmed its consistent policy of incessantly consolidating and developing comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia and sincerely wished the people of Cambodia greater achievements in their cause of building a Cambodia of peace, independence, neutrality and prosperity and having friendly relations with other countries, especially the neighbouring ones.
5. The Cambodian side expressed its admiration for the achievements of historic significance made by the people of Vietnam over 20 years of DOI MOI (renewal) under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and expressed its deep gratitude to the Government and people of Vietnam for the wholehearted support extended to the Government and people of Cambodia for national liberation from the genocide regime as well as for the support to the Coalition Government between the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the United National Front for a Cambodia of Independence, Neutrality, Peace and Unity (FUNCINPEC) in leading the current cause of socio-economic development of Cambodia.
6. The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the fine developments in bilateral relations in the recent years and their interest in elevating friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the 21st century to a new height marked by "Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability" as agreed upon by His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of Vietnam in March 2005.
7. The two sides highly appreciated the signing during the visit of many cooperation documents in various areas, which constitute a clear manifestation of the growing comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the signing of the Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985, considering it as an important event laying down the legal foundation for the two countries to build a border of peace and friendship, and expressed their determination to instruct relevant authorities of the two countries to finish land border demarcation before December 2008 in accordance with the said Treaties.
Pending the completed work of the demarcation, the two sides continue to implement the Press Communiqué of the two Prime Ministers dated 17th January 1995, concerning the management of the border area.
8. The two sides agreed to further promote their comprehensive cooperation on the basis of the established cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, such as the Meeting of three Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam on the Development Triangle, the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the Meeting on Development and Cooperation of Vietnam-Cambodia Border Provinces. In this spirit, the two sides welcomed the fruitful outcomes of the Second Meeting on Development and Cooperation of Vietnam-Cambodia Border Provinces held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 28 and 29 September 2005.
9. The two sides highly appreciated their efforts made in promoting bilateral cooperation in all fields. The Vietnamese side reaffirmed its continued cooperation extended to Cambodia in training technical professionals in areas of Cambodia's need, selling electricity to Cambodia, building bridges and roads etc.
With a view to promoting trade ties between the two countries in commensurate with their potential and political relations, the two sides agreed to early work out preferential tariff policy for goods of their respective country's origin, apply a mechanism of special preference in the economic zones along the Vietnam - Cambodia border, simplify and harmonise customs and goods inspection procedures, facilitate waterway and road transportation, combat smuggling and increase trade promotion activities.
The two sides agreed to promote substantive cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, irrigation, healthcare and tourism, etc.
10. The Vietnamese side expressed its thanks and appreciation for Cambodia's coordination and facilitation of the search of the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers died in Cambodia. The Cambodian side considered this as its obligation and pledged to further cooperate with Vietnam in this regard. The two sides agreed to continue to promote cooperation in the fields of security and defence in the future, especially in the prevention and control of drug trafficking and trafficking in women and children, transnational crimes, and education and training in security and defence.
11. The two sides agreed to continue their cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for strict implementation of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2005 for the Settlement of Issues Relating to the Vietnamese Central Highlands Ethnic Minority People illegally crossing the border to Cambodia.
12. The Cambodian side reaffirmed that it would not allow the use of its territory for any against Vietnam.
13. The two sides agreed to continue to create favourable conditions to each country's expatriates to conduct their normal business and life in each other country as those extended to expatriates of other countries, thus contributing to the strengthening and promotion of the friendly neighbourliness and cooperation between the two countries.
14. The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation with the Lao People's Democratic Republic in the implementation of the Master Plan for the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle in accordance with the agreements reached by the three Prime Ministers in Vientiane in November 2004, and reaffirmed to continue the coordination between the two countries in regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), Mekong Commission, the West-East Corridor (WEC), the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam cooperation (CLMV) and other cooperation mechanisms in which they took part.
The two sides emphasised the cooperation among the Mekong riparian countries to ensure sustainable development of concerned countries, especially those in the downstream. The two sides will actively contribute to the implementation of the projects to upgrade the Trans-Asia road and railway network.
15. Both sides noted the recent positive developments in regional and international cooperation mechanisms like ASEAN, ASEM and agreed to continue to coordinate with each other to contribute to the success of the upcoming ASEAN-11 Summit and the First East Asia Summit to be held in Malaysia in December 2005. The two sides also highly appreciated and agreed to continue their close cooperation and coordination in regional and international forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, ASEM, NAM and so on.
16. Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen expressed his sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Government and people for the reception full of warmth, sincerity and friendship extended to Him and the Delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia during the visit, which vividly demonstrates the friendship, close-knit solidarity and mutual trust between Vietnam and Cambodia. On this occasion, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen officially extended his invitation to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai for an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai expressed his thanks and accepted the invitation with pleasure./.
Ha Noi on the 10th October 2005.
FOR THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA
(Signed)
HUN SEN
Prime Minister
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
(Signed)
PHAN VAN KHAI
Prime Minister
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns070302085943/view
President's visit helps boost Viet Nam-Cambodia economic ties
(VNA) - President Nguyen Minh Triet said that his visit to Cambodia was aimed at boosting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in many areas, particularly in economics.
The state president arrived in Ha Noi on the afternoon of Mar. 1, wrapping up his three-day state-level visit to Cambodia at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.The president said that during their meetings, the Cambodian King and leaders expressed their fine sentiments towards the Vietnamese people and thanks to the Vietnamese people, especially the voluntary soldiers for helping the Cambodian nation escape from genocide."We also thank the Cambodian Government and people for their assistance to the Vietnamese people during the past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national construction," the state leader said. He went on to say that therefore, the two sides should further boost their cooperation and maintain their friendship and sincerity for mutual development.President Triet said political ties between Viet Nam and Cambodia have been maintained through frequent visits by leaders of both countries. Economic and commercial relations have also progressed though they are yet to match the political ties, he continued.In the future, according to the president, Viet Nam and Cambodia will focus on accelerating their economic and trade cooperation. "The traditional friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation enable us to trust more in each other, so all difficulties and problems will be discussed in a straightforward and open manner, helping make cooperation more efficient," he said.Regarding the prospects for Viet Nam-Cambodia ties in economy, trade and investment, president Triet said he was optimistic about the cooperation potential in these fields after attending a forum held by Vietnamese and Cambodian businesses on investment environment in the two countries.The president was accompanied by more than 60 Vietnamese entrepreneurs in his Cambodia visit.Apart from boasting diversified cooperation potential in many fields like agriculture, industry, commerce and tourism, both Viet Nam and Cambodia have open and transparent policies, creating propitious conditions for operation of businesses, said president Triet. In addition, both leaders and people of Viet Nam and Cambodia have strong desires for national development.The president added that Viet Nam and Cambodia are both members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and they have seaports and airports which facilitate their exports.He affirmed that the traditional friendly political relations and the closeness in terms of geography of Viet Nam and Cambodia, as well as the traditional solidarity between the two people, would also help business circles of the two countries to cooperate more effectively./.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080523082105/view
VN to boost audit cooperation with Cambodia
Hanoi (VNA) – Audit agencies of Vietnam and Cambodia should boost exchanges of delegation visits and experiences, and mutual assistance in order to improve their capacity.
National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien made the remark at a reception for a visiting Cambodian National Audit Authority delegation led by Auditor General Uth Chhorn in Hanoi on May 22.
The NA Vice Chairman also praised positive and effective progress in the cooperation between the two countries’ audit agencies.
He also said Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the friendship and cooperation with Cambodia and will make all efforts to build a sustainable and long-term relationship with the neighbouring country for the stability and development of the two nations.
The Cambodian Auditor General pledged to contribute to fostering close ties between Vietnam and Cambodia for their mutual benefit.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080218162445/view
Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia meet on development triangle
Phnom Penh (VNA)- Strong pledges were made at a two-day meeting on trade and investment promotion into the “Development Triangle” comprising 10 border provinces of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia concluded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17. Pledges showed the three countries’ resolve to boost investment into the region, strengthen internal link and put into full use potential and available resources of each and every province for economic development, especially production of commodities. “No stone will be left unturned so as to reach the goal for high and sustainable economic growth ratified by the Prime Ministers of the three countries in Vientiane , Laos , on November 28, 2004,” they said in an agreement. The Vietnamese head delegate, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat, said the country has issued open policies, offered numerous stimuli and upgraded infrastructure facilities to boost investment from the three countries as well as other countries into the Vietnamese provinces lying in the “Development Triangle.” “The Vietnamese Government has also taken measures to encourage domestic investors to invest in Lao and Cambodian provinces lying in the Development Triangle,” he added. The meeting, the second of its kind to date, was marked with a speech by Senior Minister and Trade Minister of Cambodia Cham Prasith. He emphasised the important role played by the “Development Triangle of Cambodia , Laos and Viet Nam ” in the socio-economic development of each province in the region and the common future of the three countries as well. He said the conference would be a good opportunity for businesses and authorities from the three countries’ provinces sharing the borderline to promote trade and investment so as to turn the “Development Triangle” into a region of socio-economically sustainable development. The meeting drew in over 100 businesses, plus authorities, from the three countries who shared experiences and informed each other with their own countries’ policies and stimuli for foreign investment. The region has been highly evaluated for its great potential in hydro-power industry, mining, industrial crops growing and processing, and tourism.
In 2006-07, the value of goods exchanged between the two countries increased 30 percent. Last year, Vietnam earned 991 million USD from exports to Cambodia and imports came in at 202 million USD. Trade between the two countries is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2010.
Vietnam’s direct investment in Cambodia
In 2006-07, the value of goods exchanged between the two countries increased 30 percent. Last year, Vietnam earned 991 million USD from exports to Cambodia and imports came in at 202 million USD. Trade between the two countries is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2010.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080228102928
Viet Nam, Cambodia meet on border cooperation
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung arrived in Cambodia on February 27 to attend and co-chair the fourth Viet Nam-Cambodia meeting on development cooperation in border provinces held in Sihanoukville from Feb. 27-28. After an official welcome ceremony, Deputy PM Hung exchanged views at a closed session with Cambodian Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on Viet Nam-Cambodia bilateral ties and cooperation between border sharing provinces. In the evening, Deputy PM Sar Kheng hosted a banquet for Deputy PM Hung and his delegation. At a senior officials meeting (SOM) held the same day, the two sides reviewed their cooperation in implementing agreements reached at the third meeting, which was held in Viet Nam’s An Giang province in 2006. They discussed measures to promote cooperation between border provinces in security, economy, culture, education, vocational training and health care. The two sides approved contents of documents which will be presented at a plenary session on February 28.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/cn_vakv/ca_tbd/nr040824144816/ns050131104651
VIETNAM – CAMBODIA RELATIONS
1. Political Relations:
Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1967.The relationship between the two countries is unceasingly consolidated and developed in all fields. The two countries have exchanged many high level delegations.
a. Vietnamese leaders’ visits to Cambodia:
Top leaders of Vietnam such as General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, President Le Duc Anh and President Tran Duc Luong have visited Cambodia; Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk (now former King) have also visited Vietnam. Notably, during General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to Cambodia in March 2005, the two countries agreed to the guidelines of developing the relations between the two countries in the new stage as follows: “long-lasting and stable bonds of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation”. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai paid an official visit to Cambodia from 6-7 July 2006 and signed some more cooperation agreements, thus contributing to bringing the relations between the two countries to a new height.
Other important visits paid by Vietnamese leaders to Cambodia include Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit to Cambodia (21-23 September 2006); Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Cambodia (December 2006); President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Cambodia (27 February- 1 March 2007); National Assembly President Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Cambodia (25-28 April 2007); and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem’s visit to Cambodia (20 – 22 August 2007).
b. Cambodian leaders’ visits to Vietnam:
Prime Minister Samdech Hunsen’s visit to Vietnam in October 2005 during which the Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985 was concluded; National Assembly President Heng Samrin’s visit to Vietnam (6 – 11 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong’s visit to Vietnam (23 – 24 October 2006).
2. In the fields of Economics, Science, Technology and Culture:
Cooperation in the fields of security and national defence has been increasingly consolidated and developed. The Governments of the two countries have made a sound decision to sign the complementary agreement on the 1985 Treaty to settle the long-standing border issues in order to build a peaceful borderline, forming a significant foundation for the future of the two countries. In this spirit, the inauguration of the border marker at the Ba Vat-Moc Bai international border gate was held on 27 September, 2006 and witnessed by the two Prime Ministers. The border marker planting is scheduled to finish in 2008.
The trade and economic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia are continuing to flourish, matching the two countries’ political relations and potentials. The two-way trade turnover grows by about 40% annually, reaching US $950 million in 2006, and is expected to increase to US $2 billion by 2010. Vietnam currently ranks third among Cambodia’s trading partners from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and sixth among countries establishing economic ties with Cambodia.
In addition to the bilateral relationship, as members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the two countries have enhanced cooperation and mutual assistance within the framework of international and regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations, the Francophone, the Cambodia-Viet Nam-Laos Development Triangle, the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC), the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam cooperation (CLMV) frameworks. The two nations have regularly exchanged views and coordinated their activities at international and regional fora. Furthermore, the two countries have fulfilled their international tasks in protecting environment and combating terrorism as well as seeking peaceful solutions to all issues and realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
(12/2007)
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos talk to boost trade
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The second conference to boost investment and trade in the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam development triangle opened in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia on February 16.During the two-day conference, representatives from the three countries will review the implementation of the projects to develop the area, which were agreed at the first conference in Viet Nam, and discuss measures to encourage investors of the three countries and foreign companies to pour capital into the triangle.The Vietnamese delegation to the conference was headed by Deputy Minister of the Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat.The delegation comprised representatives from the ministries of trade and industry; agriculture and rural development; finance; labour, war invalids and social affairs, public security, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong provinces and relevant agencies.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105039/ns080218163929
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos talk to boost trade
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The second conference to boost investment and trade in the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam development triangle opened in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia on February 16.During the two-day conference, representatives from the three countries will review the implementation of the projects to develop the area, which were agreed at the first conference in Viet Nam, and discuss measures to encourage investors of the three countries and foreign companies to pour capital into the triangle.The Vietnamese delegation to the conference was headed by Deputy Minister of the Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat.The delegation comprised representatives from the ministries of trade and industry; agriculture and rural development; finance; labour, war invalids and social affairs, public security, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong provinces and relevant agencies.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080218162445
Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia meet on development triangle
Phnom Penh (VNA)- Strong pledges were made at a two-day meeting on trade and investment promotion into the “Development Triangle” comprising 10 border provinces of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia concluded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17. Pledges showed the three countries’ resolve to boost investment into the region, strengthen internal link and put into full use potential and available resources of each and every province for economic development, especially production of commodities. “No stone will be left unturned so as to reach the goal for high and sustainable economic growth ratified by the Prime Ministers of the three countries in Vientiane , Laos , on November 28, 2004,” they said in an agreement. The Vietnamese head delegate, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat, said the country has issued open policies, offered numerous stimuli and upgraded infrastructure facilities to boost investment from the three countries as well as other countries into the Vietnamese provinces lying in the “Development Triangle.” “The Vietnamese Government has also taken measures to encourage domestic investors to invest in Lao and Cambodian provinces lying in the Development Triangle,” he added. The meeting, the second of its kind to date, was marked with a speech by Senior Minister and Trade Minister of Cambodia Cham Prasith. He emphasised the important role played by the “Development Triangle of Cambodia , Laos and Viet Nam ” in the socio-economic development of each province in the region and the common future of the three countries as well. He said the conference would be a good opportunity for businesses and authorities from the three countries’ provinces sharing the borderline to promote trade and investment so as to turn the “Development Triangle” into a region of socio-economically sustainable development. The meeting drew in over 100 businesses, plus authorities, from the three countries who shared experiences and informed each other with their own countries’ policies and stimuli for foreign investment. The region has been highly evaluated for its great potential in hydro-power industry, mining, industrial crops growing and processing, and tourism.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105039/ns071105145811
Vietnam to help Cambodia open stock exchange
The Vietnam State Securities Commission (SSC) has announced it would help Cambodian officials open the country's first stock exchange by 2009.
Leaders from the commission met with Cambodian officials from financial and economic ministries, as well from the Cambodian central bank late last month in Vietnam.
SSC chairman Vu Bang said the commission would provide valuable management experience to the neighboring country's counterparts.
In September, a Lao government delegation had visited Vietnam's Hanoi Stock Trading Center to learn from the experiences of the two-year-old market's managers.
Laos and Cambodia are the only countries in ASEAN without a stock exchange.
Vietnam opened its first stock exchange in 2000 by inaugurating the Ho Chi Minh City
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105039/ns071015153832
Vietnamese goods on display in Phnom Penh
A fair of high-quality Vietnamese goods and exports opened in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh on October 13, attracting the participation of 110 producers and 50 exporters.
Addressing the event, Cambodian Trade Minister Cham Prasit said in the first eight months of this year, two-way trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia reached 790 million USD and Viet Nam’s total investment doubled the level of 2006 to hit the mark of 114 million USD.
The minister added, however, that the figures were far below the potential for cooperation between the two countries.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang said as the two countries are both members of the World Trade Organisation, they enjoy good conditions to boost their bilateral cooperation within the regional and international frameworks.
During the trade fair, scheduled to run till October 17, various trade exchange activities between businesses of the two sides will be held in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.-(VNA)
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns070828084306
VN, Cambodia target two-way trade turnover of US$ 1 bil. late 2007
The 9th session of the Việt Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held on August 20-21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Vietnamese delegation was headed by Deputy PM, Foreign Minister Phạm Gia Khiêm, Chairman of the Vietnamese Subcommittee while the Cambodian delegation was led by Deputy PM, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong, Chairman of the Cambodian Subcommittee.
The two sides agreed to focus on cooperation in the fields of high potentialities and high profits, including education-training, infrastructure construction, trade-investment, energy, transport, health, mining, oil and gas, industrial crop planting, and marine products processing. They also reached consensus in increasing bilateral commercial promotion in order to raise the two-way trade turnover to US$ 1 billion by late 2007.
The Joint Committee decided to speed up the planting of border markers to finish this work before 2008.
The two sides agreed to closely cooperate in national defense and security, fighting against trans-national crimes, and conducting joint patrols of naval forces. The two countries confirmed their principle of permitting no force to use their territories for destructive activities against the other country. In this spirit, the two sides agreed to kick off negotiations on an agreement of criminal extradition.
Deputy PM Phạm Gia Khiêm and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong signed an agreement of the 9th session.
The 10th session of the Joint Committee is scheduled in 2008 in Việt Nam./.(VNGOP)
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns060706095454/view
Viet Nam-Cambodia cooperation thriving
(VNA) - The Viet Nam-Cambodia bilateral ties, set up in June 1967, have developed in line with the principles mentioned by the Viet Nam-Cambodia joint communiques issued on Jan. 25, 1992 and in 1995.
Viet Nam and Cambodia defined orientations for bilateral cooperation in the 21st century as "good neighbourliness, traditional solidarity and friendship and long-term stability." during the visit to Cambodia in June 1999 by General Secretary Le Kha Phieu of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.Both countries have increased the exchange of high-level visits, including the visits to Viet Nam by Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk, Senate President Samdech Chea Sim, Prime Minister Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihamoni and the visits to Cambodia by Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An.The two sides have signed a number of cooperation documents. They include the supplementary treaty to the Viet Nam-Cambodia Border Delimitation Treaty signed in 1985, a cultural cooperation plan, a protocol on the implementation of the Viet Nam-Cambodia road traffic agreement, an agreement of granting credits to upgrade a section of Highway 78 from Ban Lung to O Yadav in Cambodian province of Rattanakiri, a cooperation agreement on the trafficking of women and children and supporting those victims, and a memorandum of understanding on an agreement to facilitate cross-border goods transportation along the Moc Bai and Ba Vet border gates.On May 26, 2006, Viet Nam and Cambodia signed the minutes on a document approving the Viet Nam-Cambodia consular agreement. This is the second one that Viet Nam has signed with other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).In the field of security and national defence, Viet Nam and Cambodia signed an Agreement on Historical Common Territorial Waters in July 1982. One year later, the two countries inked a Treaty on Principles to Resolve Border Issues and an Agreement on Border Statute. In December 1985, the two sides signed an Agreement on National Border Demarcation.Trade relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia have steadily been on the upturn, with an average 30 percent growth of the two-way trade turnover per year. Viet Nam is now Cambodia's third largest partner, after Thailand and Singapore, exporting mainly farm products, food, plastic and aluminum wares to Cambodia. Meanwhile, Cambodia exports rubber and forest products to Viet Nam.In terms of investment, Vietnamese enterprises have so far poured 25 million USD into projects in Cambodia, mostly in the fields of garments and textiles, and construction materials production. By the end of December 2005, Cambodian investors had invested in four projects in Viet Nam with a combined operational capital of 4 million USD.Substantial achievements can also be seen in tourism cooperation between the two countries. In 2005, Viet Nam received around 245,000 Cambodian tourists, doubling the figure of 2004.Viet Nam and Cambodia have also agreed to boost their cooperation in education, healthcare, and social welfare sectors. The two sides have signed a 2006-2010 Protocol on Education and Training Cooperation. In 2004, Ho Chi Minh City funded the construction of a 20 million USD hospital in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh.At present, around 100,000 Vietnamese people are living in Cambodia. Since its establishment in 2003, the Vietnamese Community in Cambodia has made appreciable contributions to their native country. On June 5, Vietnamese nationals in Cambodia raised 1,800 USD as relief for Typhoon Chanchu victims in central Viet Nam. In the first five months of 2006, they collected 8,400 USD to help build houses for poor people in An Giang and Dong Thap provinces, which share a common border with Cambodia./.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns060308095729/view
Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Statement
(VNA) - At the invitation of Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, His Excellency Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia, from 6 to 7 March 2006.
During his visit, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and his delegation were received by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also paid courtesy calls on Samdech Chea Sim, Chairman of the Senate and Samdech Heng Samrin, Acting Chairman of the National Assembly; and held official talks with the delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia led by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and the Vietnamese delegation laid wreaths at the Independence Monument and the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Memorial.
The official talks were conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two Prime Ministers briefed each other on the development efforts in their respective countries and reviewed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the great importance of the upcoming State visit by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from March 16 to 18 2006. The two leaders expressed their belief that this first-ever State visit to Viet Nam by His Majesty the King of Cambodia will give a new impetus for the concerted efforts of the two countries to deepen their ties of good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability.
The two Prime Ministers are convinced that the growing traditional friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two countries and peoples have been carried forward steadily for the future generations and reaffirmed their determination to consolidate and expand the good neighbourliness and close cooperation on the basis of principles as enshrined in the 2005 Joint Declaration during the visit of His Excellency Nong Duc Manh, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, to Cambodia, from March 28 to 30 2005, and the Joint Statement during the visit of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen to Viet Nam, from October 10 to 12 2005. The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam fully committed to respect each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial intergrity, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, non-use of force or threat to use force, as well as the non-allowance of any hostile force to use one’s territory to undermine the peace, security and stability of the other country.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his admiration for economic development achievements in all sectors recorded by the Vietnamese people as well as other successes in the DOI MOI process. The Royal Government of Cambodia also highly appreciated Viet Nam’s sound foreign policy and active engagement in regional and international organizations, including the successful hosting of the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Hanoi in 2004 as well as the upcoming hosting of the 14th APEC Summit to be held in Hanoi in November this year.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai acknowledged and warmly congratulated the great achievements of Cambodia in the pursuit of peace, national reconciliation policy, and in economic development in past few years, especially the success of the reform programmes, under the framework of the Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also noted with appreciation the enhanced role and posture of Cambodia in ASEAN and the wider region characterized by its growing integration into the region and the world. Prime Minister Phan Van khai wished the Cambodian people many greater successes in their efforts of building peaceful, independent, neutral, non-aligned and prosperous Cambodia.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai renewed on this occasion the deep gratitude to the Royal Family and the Leaders and people of Cambodia for their valuable support and assistance rendered to the Vietnamese people in the past and at present as well. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen also expressed Cambodia’s deep thank to the Government and people of Viet Nam for the wholehearted support extended to the Government and people of Cambodia for their liberation from the genocidal regime and for their current cause of socio-economic development.
The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation in recent years, particularly following the exchange of visits by the top leaders of the two countries in 2005.
The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the signing of the Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985, considering it as a cornerstone of the close relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their determination to implement the Treaty in order to make the Cambodia-Viet Nam border a frontier of peace, friendship, and cooperation. Both parties agreed to speed up the completion of land border demarcation as expeditiously as possible to meet the target as agreed in the Complementary Treaty. In this connection, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Vietnam's assistance to Produce Border Markers for Cambodia during this visit. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Government of the Socialist of Viet Nam for the generous gesture of friendship.
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Border Health Quarantine, the Cooperation Plan on Information and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Initial Implementation of the Agreement for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Goods and People at the Bavet – Moc Bai Border Crossing Points. The two leaders underscored the importance of these agreements in providing substantial benefits to businesses and travelers and further expanding bilateral economic linkages.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai agreed to continue creating favourable conditions for fair treatment of their citizens in each other’s territory, as any other foreign resident. The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam expressed its sincere gratitude to the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia for their kind permission to the Vietnamese residents to exercise their legal rights to lead a normal life and do business in Cambodia.
The two leaders agreed to continue their cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for strict implementation of the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2005 for the Settlement of Issues relating to the Vietnamese Central Highlands Ethnic Minority People illegally crossing the border into Cambodia.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai shared the view that the current process of globalization is widening the gaps between the rich and the poor in the world and thus agreed that there is an urgent need to narrow the development gaps. In this regard, they supported the call to the developed countries and the international financial institutions to cancel various debts of the least developing countries (LDCs) in order for them to channel their resources to fight poverty, combat the widespread infectious diseases such as avian influenza, HIV/AIDS and malaria, as well as to ensure sustainable development.
The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction that their two countries share common perceptions on major regional and international issues and the need to continue their close cooperation within the regional and multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations (UN), the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), Group 77 (G77), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Ayeyawady-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and East-West Corridor (WEC). The two leaders agreed to cooperate closely with Laos to step up the implementation of the Master Plan on the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle. In this regard, both Cambodia and Viet Nam expressed their thanks to Japan for providing assistance for the Development Triangle of Cambodia-Laos and Viet Nam.
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai reiterated strong commitment of the two countries to work closely with other ASEAN member countries to speed up the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme, particularly the ASEAN Integration to meet the challenges of the building up the ASEAN Community and the deepening of partnership between ASEAN and its Dialogue Partners.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai welcomed Cambodia's intention to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) the soonest possible once APEC lifts its moratorium on new membership. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, on the other hand, reiterated Cambodia’s support for Viet Nam's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the earliest possible date.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of close cooperation among the Mekong basin countries to ensure sustainable development of the countries concerned, especially those in the downstream. The two countries will actively contribute to the implementation of the Trans-Asia Highway project and the Singapore-Kunming Railway Link (SKRL), in particular on the missing link between Cambodia and Viet Nam, keeping in mind that the realization of these projects will greatly contribute to the development of the region.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai expressed his sincere appreciation to the Royal Government and People of Cambodia for the warmest and generous hospitality extended to the delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during their official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
His Excellency Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, extended a cordial invitation to Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to make an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his heartfelt gratitude and accepted the kind invitation with pleasure./.
Vietnam - Cambodia joint statement
VIETNAM - CAMBODIA JOINT STATEMENT
(Ha Noi - October 10, 2005)
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1. At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia paid an official friendship visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 10 to 12 October 2005.
2. During the visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and his delegation paid tribute to the late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and visited a number of cultural and economic establishments in Ha Noi. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen also paid courtesy calls on H.E. Mr. Nong Duc Manh, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and H.E. Mr. Nguyen Van An, President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On this occasion, H.E. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh reiterated his invitation to His Majesty the King of Cambodia Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni to pay a State visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Leaders and pledged to convey the invitation to His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni.
3. The Delegation of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam led by H.E. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai held official talks with the Delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia led by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual trust and understanding.
The two sides informed each other of the developments in each country, reviewed the bilateral relations of friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation in the recent past and focused discussions on concrete and practical measures to further promote comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the future. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
4. The Vietnamese side expressed its welcome and congratulations on the important achievements recorded by the Cambodian people under the reign of His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the Senate, National Assembly and the Royal Government led by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in their cause of national construction and development, which is characterized by an increasingly stable socio-political situation, continued economic development and enhanced position in the regional and international arena.
The Vietnamese side highly valued the special significance of the visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and his important role and efforts in and active contribution to the strengthening and development of all-round relations between the two countries. On the occasion of the visit, the Vietnamese side renewed its sincere gratitude to the Royal family, the Leaders and people of Cambodia for the fine sentiment and valuable assistance extended to the people of Vietnam in their cause of national liberation in the past and national construction at present.
The Vietnamese side reaffirmed its consistent policy of incessantly consolidating and developing comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia and sincerely wished the people of Cambodia greater achievements in their cause of building a Cambodia of peace, independence, neutrality and prosperity and having friendly relations with other countries, especially the neighbouring ones.
5. The Cambodian side expressed its admiration for the achievements of historic significance made by the people of Vietnam over 20 years of DOI MOI (renewal) under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and expressed its deep gratitude to the Government and people of Vietnam for the wholehearted support extended to the Government and people of Cambodia for national liberation from the genocide regime as well as for the support to the Coalition Government between the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the United National Front for a Cambodia of Independence, Neutrality, Peace and Unity (FUNCINPEC) in leading the current cause of socio-economic development of Cambodia.
6. The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the fine developments in bilateral relations in the recent years and their interest in elevating friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the 21st century to a new height marked by "Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability" as agreed upon by His Majesty the King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of Vietnam in March 2005.
7. The two sides highly appreciated the signing during the visit of many cooperation documents in various areas, which constitute a clear manifestation of the growing comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The two sides expressed their satisfaction at the signing of the Complementary Treaty to the Treaty on the Delimitation of State Border of 1985, considering it as an important event laying down the legal foundation for the two countries to build a border of peace and friendship, and expressed their determination to instruct relevant authorities of the two countries to finish land border demarcation before December 2008 in accordance with the said Treaties.
Pending the completed work of the demarcation, the two sides continue to implement the Press Communiqué of the two Prime Ministers dated 17th January 1995, concerning the management of the border area.
8. The two sides agreed to further promote their comprehensive cooperation on the basis of the established cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, such as the Meeting of three Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam on the Development Triangle, the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the Meeting on Development and Cooperation of Vietnam-Cambodia Border Provinces. In this spirit, the two sides welcomed the fruitful outcomes of the Second Meeting on Development and Cooperation of Vietnam-Cambodia Border Provinces held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 28 and 29 September 2005.
9. The two sides highly appreciated their efforts made in promoting bilateral cooperation in all fields. The Vietnamese side reaffirmed its continued cooperation extended to Cambodia in training technical professionals in areas of Cambodia's need, selling electricity to Cambodia, building bridges and roads etc.
With a view to promoting trade ties between the two countries in commensurate with their potential and political relations, the two sides agreed to early work out preferential tariff policy for goods of their respective country's origin, apply a mechanism of special preference in the economic zones along the Vietnam - Cambodia border, simplify and harmonise customs and goods inspection procedures, facilitate waterway and road transportation, combat smuggling and increase trade promotion activities.
The two sides agreed to promote substantive cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, irrigation, healthcare and tourism, etc.
10. The Vietnamese side expressed its thanks and appreciation for Cambodia's coordination and facilitation of the search of the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers died in Cambodia. The Cambodian side considered this as its obligation and pledged to further cooperate with Vietnam in this regard. The two sides agreed to continue to promote cooperation in the fields of security and defence in the future, especially in the prevention and control of drug trafficking and trafficking in women and children, transnational crimes, and education and training in security and defence.
11. The two sides agreed to continue their cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for strict implementation of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2005 for the Settlement of Issues Relating to the Vietnamese Central Highlands Ethnic Minority People illegally crossing the border to Cambodia.
12. The Cambodian side reaffirmed that it would not allow the use of its territory for any against Vietnam.
13. The two sides agreed to continue to create favourable conditions to each country's expatriates to conduct their normal business and life in each other country as those extended to expatriates of other countries, thus contributing to the strengthening and promotion of the friendly neighbourliness and cooperation between the two countries.
14. The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation with the Lao People's Democratic Republic in the implementation of the Master Plan for the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle in accordance with the agreements reached by the three Prime Ministers in Vientiane in November 2004, and reaffirmed to continue the coordination between the two countries in regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), Mekong Commission, the West-East Corridor (WEC), the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam cooperation (CLMV) and other cooperation mechanisms in which they took part.
The two sides emphasised the cooperation among the Mekong riparian countries to ensure sustainable development of concerned countries, especially those in the downstream. The two sides will actively contribute to the implementation of the projects to upgrade the Trans-Asia road and railway network.
15. Both sides noted the recent positive developments in regional and international cooperation mechanisms like ASEAN, ASEM and agreed to continue to coordinate with each other to contribute to the success of the upcoming ASEAN-11 Summit and the First East Asia Summit to be held in Malaysia in December 2005. The two sides also highly appreciated and agreed to continue their close cooperation and coordination in regional and international forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, ASEM, NAM and so on.
16. Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen expressed his sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Government and people for the reception full of warmth, sincerity and friendship extended to Him and the Delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia during the visit, which vividly demonstrates the friendship, close-knit solidarity and mutual trust between Vietnam and Cambodia. On this occasion, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen officially extended his invitation to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai for an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai expressed his thanks and accepted the invitation with pleasure./.
Ha Noi on the 10th October 2005.
FOR THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA
(Signed)
HUN SEN
Prime Minister
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
(Signed)
PHAN VAN KHAI
Prime Minister
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns070302085943/view
President's visit helps boost Viet Nam-Cambodia economic ties
(VNA) - President Nguyen Minh Triet said that his visit to Cambodia was aimed at boosting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in many areas, particularly in economics.
The state president arrived in Ha Noi on the afternoon of Mar. 1, wrapping up his three-day state-level visit to Cambodia at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.The president said that during their meetings, the Cambodian King and leaders expressed their fine sentiments towards the Vietnamese people and thanks to the Vietnamese people, especially the voluntary soldiers for helping the Cambodian nation escape from genocide."We also thank the Cambodian Government and people for their assistance to the Vietnamese people during the past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national construction," the state leader said. He went on to say that therefore, the two sides should further boost their cooperation and maintain their friendship and sincerity for mutual development.President Triet said political ties between Viet Nam and Cambodia have been maintained through frequent visits by leaders of both countries. Economic and commercial relations have also progressed though they are yet to match the political ties, he continued.In the future, according to the president, Viet Nam and Cambodia will focus on accelerating their economic and trade cooperation. "The traditional friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation enable us to trust more in each other, so all difficulties and problems will be discussed in a straightforward and open manner, helping make cooperation more efficient," he said.Regarding the prospects for Viet Nam-Cambodia ties in economy, trade and investment, president Triet said he was optimistic about the cooperation potential in these fields after attending a forum held by Vietnamese and Cambodian businesses on investment environment in the two countries.The president was accompanied by more than 60 Vietnamese entrepreneurs in his Cambodia visit.Apart from boasting diversified cooperation potential in many fields like agriculture, industry, commerce and tourism, both Viet Nam and Cambodia have open and transparent policies, creating propitious conditions for operation of businesses, said president Triet. In addition, both leaders and people of Viet Nam and Cambodia have strong desires for national development.The president added that Viet Nam and Cambodia are both members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and they have seaports and airports which facilitate their exports.He affirmed that the traditional friendly political relations and the closeness in terms of geography of Viet Nam and Cambodia, as well as the traditional solidarity between the two people, would also help business circles of the two countries to cooperate more effectively./.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080523082105/view
VN to boost audit cooperation with Cambodia
Hanoi (VNA) – Audit agencies of Vietnam and Cambodia should boost exchanges of delegation visits and experiences, and mutual assistance in order to improve their capacity.
National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien made the remark at a reception for a visiting Cambodian National Audit Authority delegation led by Auditor General Uth Chhorn in Hanoi on May 22.
The NA Vice Chairman also praised positive and effective progress in the cooperation between the two countries’ audit agencies.
He also said Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the friendship and cooperation with Cambodia and will make all efforts to build a sustainable and long-term relationship with the neighbouring country for the stability and development of the two nations.
The Cambodian Auditor General pledged to contribute to fostering close ties between Vietnam and Cambodia for their mutual benefit.
http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns080218162445/view
Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia meet on development triangle
Phnom Penh (VNA)- Strong pledges were made at a two-day meeting on trade and investment promotion into the “Development Triangle” comprising 10 border provinces of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia concluded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17. Pledges showed the three countries’ resolve to boost investment into the region, strengthen internal link and put into full use potential and available resources of each and every province for economic development, especially production of commodities. “No stone will be left unturned so as to reach the goal for high and sustainable economic growth ratified by the Prime Ministers of the three countries in Vientiane , Laos , on November 28, 2004,” they said in an agreement. The Vietnamese head delegate, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat, said the country has issued open policies, offered numerous stimuli and upgraded infrastructure facilities to boost investment from the three countries as well as other countries into the Vietnamese provinces lying in the “Development Triangle.” “The Vietnamese Government has also taken measures to encourage domestic investors to invest in Lao and Cambodian provinces lying in the Development Triangle,” he added. The meeting, the second of its kind to date, was marked with a speech by Senior Minister and Trade Minister of Cambodia Cham Prasith. He emphasised the important role played by the “Development Triangle of Cambodia , Laos and Viet Nam ” in the socio-economic development of each province in the region and the common future of the three countries as well. He said the conference would be a good opportunity for businesses and authorities from the three countries’ provinces sharing the borderline to promote trade and investment so as to turn the “Development Triangle” into a region of socio-economically sustainable development. The meeting drew in over 100 businesses, plus authorities, from the three countries who shared experiences and informed each other with their own countries’ policies and stimuli for foreign investment. The region has been highly evaluated for its great potential in hydro-power industry, mining, industrial crops growing and processing, and tourism.
Cambodia-Thailand
CAMBODIA-THAILAND/TIESCambodia rejects new Thai protest
Cambodian government officials have denied claims by Thailand that Cambodian troops have massed on the Thai border near Preah Vihear temple, the Cambodia Daily newspaper reported Saturday. "Cambodia strongly denies that there has been any deployment of army and police in the area though there may be security guards protecting Preah Vihear temple and tourists," Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State Ouch Borith said at a news conference here on Friday. At the same press conference, Var Kim Hong, Cambodia's senior government advisor on border issues, said the Preah Vihear border had been in place since the colonial era. Thai English-language dailies - the Nation and the Bangkok Post – had reported Friday that Cambodian Ambassador Ung Sean had been summoned to the Thai Foreign Ministry and told that the supposed troop build up violated a 2000 agreement not to modify a 4.6-square-kilometer disputed zone near the temple. "This time we summoned the Cambodian ambassador to protest against them sending in troops and police and clearing landmines in the overlapping area in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province," the Thai Foreign Ministry's treaties and legal affairs department chief Virachai Plasai was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post. Thailand's protest to the ambassador is the latest flare-up in long-standing dispute over the temple and surrounding territory, which has intensified since Cambodia sought to have the temple listed as a UN World Heritage Site last year, the Cambodia Daily said.
THAILAND-CAMBODIA : TiesThais revive talks with CambodiaTalks between Thailand and Cambodia on the joint development of petroleum resources are likely to resume early next year after a decade-long delay, according to Krairit Nilkuha, the director-general of the Mineral Fuels Department. The two governments have long been at odds over exploration and development in overlapping offshore territories. A deal appeared imminent in 1997 but plans were scrapped because of the Asian economic crisis. Mr Krairit said the timing was right to promote petroleum exploration and production in the area, given the soaring costs of imported oil and volatility in world prices. At issue are nine exploration areas, designated as Blocks 5 to 13, in the overlapping claims area. Thai officials believe they could contain abundant gas and oil reserves since some blocks are located close to highly productive fields operated by Chevron and PTT Exploration and Production Plc. Any agreement between Thailand and Cambodia is likely to be modelled on the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Development Area (JDA), in which each country holds 50%. Thailand is represented by PTT Plc and the Malaysian partner is the state energy company Petronas. Amerada Hess and Petronas Carigali, the joint operators of the JDA, recently informed the Mineral Fuels Department that field A18 would be ready to start pumping natural gas in February, at a rate of 390 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd).
PTTEP has also confirmed additional supplies of 330 mmcfd from its Arthit field in the Gulf of Thailand off Songkhla, which would be available starting in February. Mr Krairit said the new output would ensure natural gas supply to serve the high demand of the industrial and electricity sectors at a time when other sources remain uncertain. The country wants to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to feed power plants by 2011 but has been unable to secure deals with potential suppliers from the Middle East.Meanwhile, the government has attracted bids for exploration licences in 28 of the 65 blocks that have been on offer since earlier this year. Of the 28 blocks, 20 are onshore and the rest offshore. Authorities expect around three billion baht in capital investment to be made in exploration between 2008 and 2010. Mr Krairit said new bids could also be called for at least 40 petroleum fields that previously had been deemed not commercially viable. Improved exploration technology, combined with the prospect of high oil prices, are seen as making previously marginal fields more attractive to investors.
Courtesy Bangkokpost
Southeast Asia Thai-Cambodian industrial zone planned Cambodia and Thailand have reached a preliminary agreement to establish an industrial zone on their common border to promote trade and investment between the two countries. Labor-intensive industries and the textile, fishery and jewelry industries will be targeted for location in the zone. Supachai Panichpak, the Thai Minister of Commerce and World Trade Organization Director General designate, said after a recent seminar in Bangkok that the proposed zone would not only help stimulate trade between the nations, it would also reduce Cambodia's large trade deficit with Thailand. Supachai said the move followed consultations with his opposite number in Cambodia, Jom Prasit. "We agreed on the idea to set up an industrial zone on the border to attract investment, especially for Thai labor-intensive industries, and industries that use raw materials imported from Cambodia. "Thailand will get the advantage of being able to use cheap labor and materials, while Cambodia will gain from increases in employment levels," Supachai said. A source at the Ministry of Commerce said the project would most likely be similar to one that has been set up in Mae Sot, Tak province, on the border with Myanmar. Industries in this special area receive some privileges, such as exemption on income tax and import duties. A survey conducted by the Thai National Economic and Social Development Board suggests that Poipet, just inside the Cambodian border opposite the thriving Thai market town of Aranyaprathet, would be a suitable location. Its infrastructure, the survey found, was sound, with well-developed roads and adequate water, electricity and communication links. It also has easy access to the major Thai deepsea port at Laem Chabang. The Thai Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind the project as it would allow Thai manufacturers to compete with countries such as Vietnam and China, which have a low-cost labor force. Vichian Techapaiboon, president of the chamber, said in view of the support from private firms, working groups from the two countries should meet as soon as possible to discuss details and draw up feasibility studies. Thailand has traditionally relied on illegal workers, especially those form Myanmar, to work in its low-skill industries. However, following the economic crisis of the past few years, Thailand has clamped down on the estimated one million illegal foreign workers in the country.
THAILAND-CAMBODIA: Joint venture investment plans for proposed $2,000,000,000 to $3,000,000,000...
Publication: WWP-Report on Engineering Construct & Plant Operations in the Developing World Date: Saturday, June 1 2002
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
US-based CONOCO INC. has already established a significant presence in the Thai retail market where it manages 130 fuel stations. In addition, the company also operates a joint venture refinery in Melaka. This unit produces clean fuels such as premium diesel that meet stringent California specifications for global markets.
As things currently stand, the company with undisclosed partners are now said to be considering an investment of $2,000,000,000 to $3,000,000,000 in order to develop a Thai-Cambodian overlapping offshore oil and gas。
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Thai-Cambodian goal to double trade and investment [and also double trade between Cambodia and VN]
BANGKOK, Nov 21 (TNA) - Thailand and Cambodia have set a common target to increase their level of bilateral trade and investment to US$2 billion within three years, from US$1 billion at present, according to top officials of both countries.Speaking after a meeting on investment cooperation between the two countries, Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Director-General of Thailand's Trade Negotiations Department, said both countries agreed to cooperate in doubling their bilateral trade and investment value in the next three years. Currently, she said, Cambodia enjoys political stability, continued economic growth, and an appropriate currency exchange rate.The Cambodian delegation comprising top officials and executives in both the public and private sectors visited Bangkok, giving Thai investors information on investment, including establishment of a special economic zone.Chutima conceded that Thai investors had been reluctant to invest in Cambodia (in part, because of the legacy of anti-Thai riots in Cambodia in early 2003, when some US$50 million of damage was done). But given recent cooperation, she believed, Thailand's investment in the Cambodian economy, particularly in the textile, tourism and fishery industries, investment will continue to increase.Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said Cambodia had recently enjoyed more political stability than in the past several years and continued economic growth is anticipated.In 2005, the country's economy expanded at least 13.4 per cent. It is expected the economy this year would grow no less than 5 per cent despite the global economic slowdown.He said Cambodia had in recent years enjoyed economic growth based on international investment from the country's political stability and impoved adherence to international rules and procedures.The minister said Cambodia had encouraged foreign investors to invest in the country by offering tax incentives such as an exemption of import tariffs.Such an approach had attracted investors from around the world.But, Thailand, which is its neighbour, had a very low portion of investment in Cambodia while South Korea and Japan are top investors. So, he viewed, Thailand had more opportunities to invest in Cambodia.
Thai-Cambodian Economic Ties to Suffer Severely from Riots
The anti-Thai riots and destruction in Cambodia over the past few days would put 40 billion baht (952.4 million US dollars) a year in trade and investment and a tourist market worth 2 billion baht (47.6 milliondollars) between the two countries in jeopardy, the Nation newspaper said Friday. Quoting a forecast of the Thai Farmers Research Centre (TFRC), the report said that the Cambodian crisis could undermine the economic ties between the two neighbors. Last year, trade along their common border was worth 18.7 billion baht (445.2 million dollars), up 18.7 percent from the year before, with Thailand posting a surplus of 17.76 billion baht(422.8 million dollars). Around 400 Thai investors have done business in Cambodia. Thai investment in Cambodia will also be affected, the researchhouse added. With a policy of turning a battlefield into a trade market, Thai investors were keen to develop hotels, restaurants, banks, tourism and telecommunications in Cambodia. Prior to the Asian financial crisis of 1997, Thai investors put around 500 million baht (11.9 million dollars) into the country. Investors were recently looking at joint ventures with Cambodians for casinos near the border areas. But now, those who have investments in Cambodia may hesitate to expand their investments and may revise their business plan for the country. In the field of tourism, the Phnom Penh riots had cut the flow of Thai tourists to Cambodia and could lead many international travelers to think twice before going there, the TFRC said. In 2001, more than 50,000 Thai visitors went to Cambodia by air,and the figure could be significantly higher if those travelling by land were included, the report said.
People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
Current Issues in Thailand Thai-Cambodian Crisis: Impacts on Trade, Investment and Tourism
(30/01/2003)
Recent political chaos in Cambodia has now escalated, bruising diplomatic ties between Thailand and Cambodia severely. This tense international political conflict should be resolved by Thai and Cambodian authorities as soon as possible. The Thai Farmers Research Center (TFRC) has assessed the impacts arising from the Cambodian riots that may possibly have on the Thai economy in three main areas - trade, investment and tourism - as follows: Thai-Cambodian Trade The Cambodian riots have directly and immediately affected the Thai-Cambodian Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting scheduled on January 30, 2002 aimed at bolstering bilateral trade volume and value. Now, however, the meeting has been postponed indefinitely. The unexpected and tragic events have so far damaged the environment of Thai-Cambodian trade which is worth around Bt40 billion annually. The chaotic incident is expected to deal a severe blow to Thai-Cambodian trade in the following aspects: Thai-Cambodian Trade Disrupted Trade between the two countries in the early part of this year is poised to come to a halt given that the conflict may temporarily put off trade between the two countries as Thai and Cambodian businessmen may opt to adopt a wait and see attitude before the situation in Cambodia returns to normalcy. Major Thai exports to Cambodia include finished oil, sugar, motorcycles and parts, beverages, cement and so on. At the same time, Thailand’s main import items from Cambodia include other metals waste and scrap, raw hide and leather, timbers, sawn wood and products, etc. Thai-Cambodian Border Closure…Takes a Toll on Border Trade The reduced level of diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms has inevitably caused the frontier trade between Thailand and Cambodia to come to a halt after the Cambodian authorities ordered the main border check points to be closed. It is a pity as the total border trade (exports plus imports) between Thailand and Cambodia grew by as much as 18.8 percent in 2002. In fact, the border trade between the two countries over the past year was very active, and was poised to flourish even more this year. In 2002, Thai-Cambodian border trade (exports plus imports) totaled Bt18.71 billion, up by 18.8 percent. No conflicts were recorded at the Thai-Cambodian trade border zone over the last year. In 2002, Thailand’s exports to Cambodian were worth Bt18.23 billion, up by 18.7 percent from the same period last year, while Thailand’s imports from the country amounted to Bt479.12 million, rising by 24.7 percent, year-on-year. As a result, Thailand enjoyed a trade surplus with Cambodia of Bt17.75 billion, representing an increase of 18.5 percent from the previous year. The major Thai products exported across the border to Cambodia in 2002 were agro-industrial products, motor cars, motor vehicles and parts, beverages, daily utensils, electrical equipment and parts, etc. The main products that Thailand imported from Cambodia were leather and bovine leather products, steel and products, wood, sawn wood and products, non-electric machinery and parts, fishery products and livestock, etc. Thailand reduces trade assistance to Cambodia Trade assistance that Thailand has given to Cambodia since 1999 until now within the framework of economic cooperation between the two countries, including assistance in setting up domestic trade system, trade registration system, etc. may stall due to the chaos in Cambodia. Impact on investment between Thailand and Cambodia
The former policy of the Thai government in “Turning Battlefields into trade markets” is also the engine stimulating more investment of Thailand in Cambodia. The major sectors that Thai investors are interested in are hotels, restaurants, banks, tourism, telecommunication, etc. On average, Thai entrepreneurs invested in Cambodia around Bt500 million per year before the Asian economic crisis in 1997. However, after the Baht crisis, Thai investment overseas was substantially reduced, including that in Cambodia, particularly the business of banks and finance companies that gradually closed down their affiliates there. The remaining Thai banking affiliates at the moment are Krung Thai Bank and Cambodia Commercial Bank (affiliate of Siam Commercial Bank). The protest in Cambodia has caused widespread chaos resulting in severe damage to Thai business in Cambodia. This grave situation has seriously and totally deteriorated the investment environment, especially the one of Thailand. Impact on Tourism: Thailand loses a market of more than Bt2 billion The chaos in Cambodian heavily impacted on the relations between Thailand and Cambodia in term of tourism. Thailand stands to lose Cambodian tourist market that has dramatically increased over the past 5 years, with a growth rate of 35.4% per year and created revenue to Thai tourism amounting to more than Bt 1billion per year. In 2001, around 80,000 Cambodian tourists traveled to Thailand, which increased by 45% from 2000 and generated revenue in tourism around ofBt 1.5 billion in 2001, an increase of 52% from 2000. If the situation had remained normal, it was expected that, in 2003, more than 100,000 Cambodian tourists would be coming to Thailand, generating revenue of more than Bt2 billion. The Cambodian tours market was booming and creating revenue for many tour companies, including the hotel business of Thai entrepreneurs in Cambodia, and all of these are affected from by these tragic developments as Thai tourists and investors hurriedly travel back to Thailand for fear of danger to their lives.
November 21, 2006
Cambodia's Minister of Commerce welcomes Thai businesses to invest in Cambodia
Thais News
Cambodia’s Senior Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Jom Prasit, indicated that the national tax privileges and the readiness of the national economic and political situation will attract Thai investors to invest in Cambodia.During Thailand-Cambodia conference on investment cooperation today, Mr. Jom revealed that Cambodia is ready to open up its arm if Thai businessmen are interested in expanding their businesses in its Poipet Special Economic Zones. Poipet of Cambodia is near Thailand’s border and this will facilitate the transportation between the two countries. In addition, Cambodia's telecommunication is ready for the economic growth of the areas. He said that Thai investors will be allowed to rent the land at a very low rate.Mr. Jom informed that Cambodia’s economic and political situation has grown steadily. As a WTO member and a key player in the textile industry, he believes that Cambodia's position will help place confidence on Thai investors.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EB04Ae03.html
Southeast Asia
Thai-Cambodia crisis shows old hurts By Chayanit Poonyarat and Johanna Son BANGKOK - Last week's dust-up between Thailand and Cambodia has underscored how a volatile brew made up of simmering resentment of Thailand's role as the heavyweight in the region, combined with a dose of miscommunication, can change bilateral ties from cordial to downright hostile literally overnight. In less than a week, Thailand and Cambodia went from being neighboring countries to nations as far apart as they can be, after ties plummeted to their worst in recent decades. After anti-Thai riots peaked last Wednesday, sparked by supposed remarks by a Thai actress implying that Cambodia had stolen the historic Angkor Wat from Thailand, Bangkok stopped all economic deals with Phnom Penh, halted flights, downgraded its embassy, sealed its borders, and evacuated more than 1,000 nationals. Angry protests were also held at the Cambodian Embassy here, prompting the King to call for calm, after reports that mobs had torched the Thai Embassy and gone after Thai businesses and nationals in Cambodia. By Friday, relative calm had returned to Phnom Penh amid tight security. The Thai government welcomed Cambodian's offer of compensation - damage was estimated at US$23 million - and the arrests of nearly 150 people involved in the riots. One Cambodian was reported to have died in the riots. Phnom Penh issued an apology and broadcast its "most profound regret", which Thailand welcomed. But Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also said, "The two governments are very close but the incident is very unacceptable." The anger and violence left many shaken, exploding as it did so suddenly and over remarks that the actress, Suwanna Kongying, denies saying - and which the Cambodian paper that first reported them said it did not verify before publishing. In hindsight, the actress's remarks were but the match that ignited old issues, coming as they did amid recent border spats. What has been dormant underneath Thai-Cambodian ties is "misunderstanding and bias", said historian Charnvit Kasetsiri of the Five Area Studies Project under the Thailand Research Fund. To many, the riots underscored the resentment against Thailand - its economic and cultural domination - by smaller, poorer neighbors such as Cambodia and Laos. "We have had many things to offer to Cambodia ... economic[ally] and cultur[ally]. The problem is that we have never asked how the Cambodians think and feel about that," Kraisak Choonhawan, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at a discussion on Friday. "There is enormous investment of Thais in Cambodia but nobody has ever raised the question of how much the local[s] get from this," said Charnvit. Indeed, Thai-owned businesses from hotels and restaurants and firms such as Shinawatra telecommunications - owned by no less than Thaksin - bore the brunt of Cambodians' rage. Those economic ties are now in jeopardy. In the 1980s, bilateral ties were supposed to become better after Bangkok said it was time to turn the battlefields of Indochina into a marketplace. Today, "as a more developed nation, we enjoy an advantage in pursuing business interests in Cambodia, Laos and Burma. But we have done this so aggressively and so successfully that we appear guilty of economic colonization," said the Bangkok Post in its editorial on Friday. "Cultural dominance has accompanied this economic infiltration so that Lao and Cambodian youths almost exclusively listen to Thai music, watch Thai movies and seek to emulate the singers and actors they see on Thai television programs," it added. "This makes it easy for Cambodian politicians and the media to exploit a natural resentment. It is ironic that these same tactics by our own political leaders - stirring nationalism and anti-foreign sentiment (in our case 'the West') - should return to taunt us," the Post argued. In many ways, some say, it is like a love-hate relationship between Thailand and its neighbors. Despite resentment by Laos and Cambodia, Thai culture - products, songs, television shows, pop idols - are the craze among young people there. Suwanna herself was among the most popular Thai actresses in Cambodia. Kraisak said, "It might not be too difficult to imagine how it would feel like to wake up having to listen to Thai music and watch Thai television programs every day." For example, "young Cambodians had once displayed Suwanna's photos in their homes, in place of their parents or the Cambodian King and Queen", said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, adding that after her remarks people were now destroying her photos. Old historical hurts and wars have not helped any. But there have been good times too - Thailand sheltered anti-Phnom Penh forces during the Khmer Rouge's rule and took in hundreds of thousands of refugees in the 1970s. Cambodia had suspended diplomatic ties before over insults by Thai military strongmen. The two countries squabbled over the Preah Vihear temple that Cambodia won in the World Court in 1962. Likewise, Charnvit said, "In the historical textbooks, we learn about [Thai] King Naresuan killing the king of Cambodia as revenge back in 1593. The memory easily pops up in many Thais' minds when talk about relation between the two. "How can we deal with our neighbors peacefully and respectfully and still hold on to such perceptions?" he asked, adding that a recent study has proved that this historical record is mistaken. Some Thai analysts, along with local media, believe that domestic Cambodian politics - general elections are due in July - are a factor in the riots, after Hun Sen condemned Suvanan's supposed remarks and added even more to widespread anger. But Charnvit says it is time to look beyond the actress's remarks, Hun Sen's adding fuel to the fire and his supposed use of the nationalism card with a view to the polls, to see what has made bilateral ties so volatile beneath the surface. He added: "We cannot go on without fixing the misunderstanding and bias in our minds. We should keep in mind that history reminds us that some mistakes cannot be repeated." (Inter Press Service)
Gambling tourism destroys Cambodia’s social fabric
Dear colleagues and friends,
Gambling kingpins in the frontier town Poipet can see their business fortunes restored now that the Thai-Cambodia border is open again. But for many Thai workers and Cambodians here, their lives will still be mired in poverty. On 5 March 2003, the Cambodian government had closed two major border passes with Thailand in retaliation against Bangkok barring Thais from crossing in Cambodia, following anti-Thai rioting in Phnom Penh in January.
KHAN SOPHIROM, of the Khmer-language newspaper ‘Koh Santepheap’ in Phnom Penh, investigated the impacts of border casinos and related tourism along the Thai-Cambodian border. We are presenting here a slightly shortened version of his report ‘Las Vegas in Cambodia’, which is a chapter in the new book ‘Invisible Borders – Reportage from Our Mekong’, published by the International Press Service (IPS) Asia-Pacific with support from the Rockefeller Foundation-Southeast Asia (Bangkok 2003). For more information on the IPS project ‘Our Mekong’ and other interesting stories from across the region, please visit the IPS news site http://www.ipsnews.net/mekong/index.shtml.
Yours truly,
Anita Pleumarom
Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team
-----------------------------------
GAMBLING TOURISM DESTROYS CAMBODIA’S SOCIAL FABRIC
By Khan Sophirom
POIPET, a town in Cambodia’s northwestern O’Chreuv district by the border with Thailand, looks like the closest place to paradise in this country, but walking just 100 metres outside the casino zone leads one back into rural, poor Cambodia.
The roads and lawns around the seven luxury hotel-and-casino resorts in Poipet (an eigth is under construction) are well-manicured and street sweepers brush trash into neat piles all day long, while trucks spray water to keep the dust down. This water supply, by the way, does not go beyond the strip of casinos.
“Slippery and muddy roads are always there when it rains, and then they become dirt roads when it is dry and hot,” shrugs Lo Chan, a 36-year-old motorbike driver here.
Heaps of uncollected garbage lie along the roadside and local Cambodians eking out a living in the numerous shanties all over Poipet complain of a severe lack of clean drinking water. But the façade of modernity and comfort is enough to keep high-rolling gamblers coming – after all, 99 percent of the visitors here rarely venture outside the casino area.
On Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., hundreds of Thai tourists – who make up most of the foreign visitors here – pass the international border gate between eastern Thailand and western Cambodia and are transported to the casinos in air-conditioned mini-buses.
More than 1,000 Thais cross the border every day, according to police officers in Sakaeo, whose Aranyaprathet district lies just across Poipet. For these high-rollers, who might gamble away in a single night an equivalent of a Cambodian worker’s lifetime earnings, every imaginable sensual pleasure can be found in Poipet’s casino enclave.
High-stakes clients, who have at least one million baht (US$23,800) to burn, are treated like royalty with offers of free accommodation in the best hotel rooms attached to the casinos.
Casinos are banned in Thailand, and Poipet is easily accessible by a three-hour drive from Bangkok. Crossing the border for an all-day, all-night or all-week gambling session is not much of a problem. Cambodian immigration authorities issue either 10-hour entry permits for Thais without a passport or week-long border passes for all passport holders with a valid Cambodian visa.
And to make things easier, all of Poipet’s casinos also accept Thai baht.
The tax revenues from the casinos are big business for the Cambodian government, which in 2001 expected to collect 16 billion riel (about US$4 million). But this comes at a price. Prostitution, rampant drug-use and robberies are rife in the town.
While the casinos employ Cambodians – O’Chreuv district police records indicate that about 75 percent of the more than 4,000 casino employees are Cambodians -, the locals are barred from gambling. It is good that Cambodians are not allowed to play, but the question is, what good do the casinos really bring to the locals, asks Chea Vannath, president of the Social Development Centre.
Chan Tha is a 23-year-old sex worker who came to Poipet about six years ago, like many other Cambodians drawn by the prospect of a bustling town, tourists and travelers – and making a quick buck.
She was 16 or 17 then, her marriage had just ended and she needed money to feed her family in Svay Rieng. She says she has one to three clients – Cambodians – in a day, sometimes none, but can no longer live on the money she makes here. “After a week, when I get my salary from the brothel owner, I will go to O’smach.”
O’smach is another border area, one of four places in Cambodia that is home to casinos. In O’smach, a friend has told her, the money from sex work is better.
Then, there is the sex work inside the casinos, although non-government workers say they are hampered in their efforts to ascertain the number of prostitutes there because locals are banned from the gambling floor and out of fear of the mafia, who many say operate in the casinos.
“We don’t believe there are no sex workers in the casinos. It’s just that we are not clear whether they are Cambodians or foreigners, because we can’t enter the casinos,” said a worker with the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Centre.
But former NGO worker Sao Chhoeurth was more forthcoming on the connection between mafia gamblers in the casinos and human trafficking. “These guys are usually high-rollers and if they see a beautiful Cambodian woman, who usually is the croupier or someone working in the bar, they’ll approach the manager saying they want to have sex with her.”
Sao Chhoeurth went on. “The manager will obviously say yes because these gamblers spend huge sums of money. They then sleep with the woman who gets paid 2,500 baht (US$59,52) by each gambler.”
“That’s not the end of it,” added Sao Chhoeurth. “They try to entice her to move to Bangkok with lucrative job offers and a glamorous lifestyle. Of course, wanting a better life, she agrees, but only to find herself cheated and enslaved.”
Poipet homemaker Vong Chan Theoun said one of her casino friends was lured to Thailand under similar promises of a high-paying job and a luxurious life. “She left two years ago and we haven’t heard from her since then,” said Chan Theoun.
Many Cambodians in Poipet are reluctant to be named for fear of reprisals from the mafia in the casinos.
In January 2002, media reported a series of bomb blasts in the casino strip and insiders said they were targeted at a prominent Thai politician and his family who were at the Princess Hotel and Casino Resort. An influential gambling tycoon hid him and his family and later sent him back to Thailand under the protection of body guards.
As Chan Tha’s case shows, the rise of casinos has also caused a population boom in the frontier town. According to Poipet’s new commune clerk San Seang Hou,, appointed by the Ministry of Interior, the town’s population has increased to about 30,000 families from the 1998 National Census estimate of 9,244 families.
According to O’Chreuv district records, Poipet is now Cambodia’s largest commune with over 100,000 people. (The common councils were the creation of the French colonialists in 1908, helping to serve as administrative units to control the Cambodians and to raise taxes.)
But a medical aide in a district hospital in O’Chreuv said many Cambodians came to Poipet with false expectations. “Many hope to find jobs in the casinos, but end up being trafficked to neighbouring Thailand as illegal workers on construction sites or sex workers in brothels,” said the medical aide who did not want to be named. “A large number of Poipet’s current inhabitants are landless farmers who have come from communes in other provinces to escape unemployment and misery.”
He added: “Lots of children, too, have made their way here and they are either street beggars asking money from the huge number of foreigners going to the casinos or car park attendants demanding payment from the gamblers in order for their cars not to be stolen.”
“Most of these children have very poor education and don’t have the support of family members. Glue-sniffing and amphetamine use are rampant to drown the hunger, loneliness and lack of family love,” said the medical aide.
Poipet, during the Cambodian war, was a transit point for Cambodian refugees and a smuggling route for Thai traders operating in the Rong Kloeu market, located on the Thai side of the border facing Poipet.
Soon after the war in 1992, when Cambodia was administered by the United Nations, Poipet was opened as a border crossing on Route 5 on the way to Phnom Penh. In late 1998, Poipet was accorded the status of an international border gate between Cambodia and Thailand to facilitate overland trade and tourism between the two countries.
In that year, too, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen embarked on a plan to promote foreign investment in the country by seeking overseas capital in casinos along the Thai-Cambodian border. Ironically, Hun Sen also closed all casinos operating in the vicinity of Phnom Penh and ordered them to be relocated at least 200 kilometres from the capital, saying these establishments were leading to increased crime and were involved in a spate of kidnapping of wealthy businessmen for ransom.
But one casino – the Naga Resort – run by the controversial Malaysian company Ariston, managed to stay put in the Cambodian capital after winning its battle against the government in a Phnom Penh court. In 1994, the government signed an agreement with Ariston permitting the company to run the only casino operation in Cambodia. However, other gambling permits were later handed out, so Ariston chose to settle for an agreement that made it the only casino operator within 200 km of Phnom Penh.
Poipet’s first casino, the Holiday Palace began operating in early 1999 and the Golden Crown Casino Hotel and Resort, with poker, baccarat, roulette and blackjack tables and slot machines, soon followed suit.
Within a span of two years, five other casinos sprang up – Grand Diamond Resort, Tropicana Resort and Hotel, Casino Star Vegas Resort, Holiday Poipet Resort and Princess Hotel and Casino – boasting luxury rooms, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, shopping centers and massage parlours.
Meantime, Thai authorities are becoming increasingly worried about the huge sums of money spent by their citizens in casinos in neighbouring countries. A study by the Bangkok-based Chulalongkorn University last year put that amount at between 71 and 84 billion bath (US$1.7 to 2 billion) a year.
The study added that gambling among Thais – who are only allowed to wage their bets, back home, on horse-racing and the government-run lottery – had become widespread and caused many people, especially those from the lower income levels, financial problems. It also said that the money channeled through different forms of gambling amounted to almost 40 percent of the local economy.
The district officer of Aranyaprathet, Seree Suasang Thong, said casinos are not good for Thais because many people lose their money and property, and gambling has destroyed many families.
Likewise, one villager in Balilay in Poipet mused, no one really gets rich by gambling. “If today you win, you have a good chance tomorrow. But tomorrow, you will lose more than you won yesterday, so nobody can win forever.”
While Poipet’s commune clerk San Seang Hou argues that the casinos provide jobs for Cambodians, opposition politicians and activists, however, question the government’s rationale for resorting to transnational gambling to spur economic growth – and voice their many worries about the high social cost of this policy.
“The present engine of growth are gambling, logging, drug trafficking, prostitution and cheap labour industries. This type of growth is not sound,” said former finance minister Sam Rainsy in a letter to a 2001 donors’ conference in Tokyo.
The social and environmental costs that are associated with this type of growth will translate into heavy economic costs in the coming years, resulting in the rise in criminality, natural disasters (flood and drought) resulting in crop destruction and food shortage, increasing drug addiction, the spread of AIDS and the destruction of the nation’s social fabric,” wrote Sam Rainsy, founder of a political party that bears his name.
In the local government elections in February 2002, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) won control of Poipet, and Sok Savann is now the leader of the commune council.
Sok Savann feels he is banging his head against the wall in trying to get information from the casinos – vital ones, like the amount of taxes they pay the government and the actual names on the gambling permits. “The casinos feel they are untouchable and local authorities just turn a blind eye. They feel we have no right to talk to them, despite being elected by the people,” he said.
“Whenever we want to meet the manager to discuss details like the amount of taxes they pay or how they receive their licences, we will be told that he’s either busy or not in the office,” added the SRP commune council chief. But Sok Savann issued a stern warning. “If they keep turning us away, we will consider putting a referendum to the people on whether there should be a moratorium on gambling.”
Chean Vannath, the activist, argued that the casinos have sullied Cambodia’s reputation. “Casinos just breed crime and all kinds of bad elements are there under one roof. Why not get rid of all of them and look at other alternatives instead?” she asked.
“Cambodians are hardworking and honest and our country can be self-reliant through different means. It doesn’t have to be gambling and this country wasn’t built for gamblers,” she said.
Cambodian government officials have denied claims by Thailand that Cambodian troops have massed on the Thai border near Preah Vihear temple, the Cambodia Daily newspaper reported Saturday. "Cambodia strongly denies that there has been any deployment of army and police in the area though there may be security guards protecting Preah Vihear temple and tourists," Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State Ouch Borith said at a news conference here on Friday. At the same press conference, Var Kim Hong, Cambodia's senior government advisor on border issues, said the Preah Vihear border had been in place since the colonial era. Thai English-language dailies - the Nation and the Bangkok Post – had reported Friday that Cambodian Ambassador Ung Sean had been summoned to the Thai Foreign Ministry and told that the supposed troop build up violated a 2000 agreement not to modify a 4.6-square-kilometer disputed zone near the temple. "This time we summoned the Cambodian ambassador to protest against them sending in troops and police and clearing landmines in the overlapping area in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province," the Thai Foreign Ministry's treaties and legal affairs department chief Virachai Plasai was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post. Thailand's protest to the ambassador is the latest flare-up in long-standing dispute over the temple and surrounding territory, which has intensified since Cambodia sought to have the temple listed as a UN World Heritage Site last year, the Cambodia Daily said.
THAILAND-CAMBODIA : TiesThais revive talks with CambodiaTalks between Thailand and Cambodia on the joint development of petroleum resources are likely to resume early next year after a decade-long delay, according to Krairit Nilkuha, the director-general of the Mineral Fuels Department. The two governments have long been at odds over exploration and development in overlapping offshore territories. A deal appeared imminent in 1997 but plans were scrapped because of the Asian economic crisis. Mr Krairit said the timing was right to promote petroleum exploration and production in the area, given the soaring costs of imported oil and volatility in world prices. At issue are nine exploration areas, designated as Blocks 5 to 13, in the overlapping claims area. Thai officials believe they could contain abundant gas and oil reserves since some blocks are located close to highly productive fields operated by Chevron and PTT Exploration and Production Plc. Any agreement between Thailand and Cambodia is likely to be modelled on the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Development Area (JDA), in which each country holds 50%. Thailand is represented by PTT Plc and the Malaysian partner is the state energy company Petronas. Amerada Hess and Petronas Carigali, the joint operators of the JDA, recently informed the Mineral Fuels Department that field A18 would be ready to start pumping natural gas in February, at a rate of 390 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd).
PTTEP has also confirmed additional supplies of 330 mmcfd from its Arthit field in the Gulf of Thailand off Songkhla, which would be available starting in February. Mr Krairit said the new output would ensure natural gas supply to serve the high demand of the industrial and electricity sectors at a time when other sources remain uncertain. The country wants to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to feed power plants by 2011 but has been unable to secure deals with potential suppliers from the Middle East.Meanwhile, the government has attracted bids for exploration licences in 28 of the 65 blocks that have been on offer since earlier this year. Of the 28 blocks, 20 are onshore and the rest offshore. Authorities expect around three billion baht in capital investment to be made in exploration between 2008 and 2010. Mr Krairit said new bids could also be called for at least 40 petroleum fields that previously had been deemed not commercially viable. Improved exploration technology, combined with the prospect of high oil prices, are seen as making previously marginal fields more attractive to investors.
Courtesy Bangkokpost
Southeast Asia Thai-Cambodian industrial zone planned Cambodia and Thailand have reached a preliminary agreement to establish an industrial zone on their common border to promote trade and investment between the two countries. Labor-intensive industries and the textile, fishery and jewelry industries will be targeted for location in the zone. Supachai Panichpak, the Thai Minister of Commerce and World Trade Organization Director General designate, said after a recent seminar in Bangkok that the proposed zone would not only help stimulate trade between the nations, it would also reduce Cambodia's large trade deficit with Thailand. Supachai said the move followed consultations with his opposite number in Cambodia, Jom Prasit. "We agreed on the idea to set up an industrial zone on the border to attract investment, especially for Thai labor-intensive industries, and industries that use raw materials imported from Cambodia. "Thailand will get the advantage of being able to use cheap labor and materials, while Cambodia will gain from increases in employment levels," Supachai said. A source at the Ministry of Commerce said the project would most likely be similar to one that has been set up in Mae Sot, Tak province, on the border with Myanmar. Industries in this special area receive some privileges, such as exemption on income tax and import duties. A survey conducted by the Thai National Economic and Social Development Board suggests that Poipet, just inside the Cambodian border opposite the thriving Thai market town of Aranyaprathet, would be a suitable location. Its infrastructure, the survey found, was sound, with well-developed roads and adequate water, electricity and communication links. It also has easy access to the major Thai deepsea port at Laem Chabang. The Thai Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind the project as it would allow Thai manufacturers to compete with countries such as Vietnam and China, which have a low-cost labor force. Vichian Techapaiboon, president of the chamber, said in view of the support from private firms, working groups from the two countries should meet as soon as possible to discuss details and draw up feasibility studies. Thailand has traditionally relied on illegal workers, especially those form Myanmar, to work in its low-skill industries. However, following the economic crisis of the past few years, Thailand has clamped down on the estimated one million illegal foreign workers in the country.
THAILAND-CAMBODIA: Joint venture investment plans for proposed $2,000,000,000 to $3,000,000,000...
Publication: WWP-Report on Engineering Construct & Plant Operations in the Developing World Date: Saturday, June 1 2002
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
US-based CONOCO INC. has already established a significant presence in the Thai retail market where it manages 130 fuel stations. In addition, the company also operates a joint venture refinery in Melaka. This unit produces clean fuels such as premium diesel that meet stringent California specifications for global markets.
As things currently stand, the company with undisclosed partners are now said to be considering an investment of $2,000,000,000 to $3,000,000,000 in order to develop a Thai-Cambodian overlapping offshore oil and gas。
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Thai-Cambodian goal to double trade and investment [and also double trade between Cambodia and VN]
BANGKOK, Nov 21 (TNA) - Thailand and Cambodia have set a common target to increase their level of bilateral trade and investment to US$2 billion within three years, from US$1 billion at present, according to top officials of both countries.Speaking after a meeting on investment cooperation between the two countries, Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Director-General of Thailand's Trade Negotiations Department, said both countries agreed to cooperate in doubling their bilateral trade and investment value in the next three years. Currently, she said, Cambodia enjoys political stability, continued economic growth, and an appropriate currency exchange rate.The Cambodian delegation comprising top officials and executives in both the public and private sectors visited Bangkok, giving Thai investors information on investment, including establishment of a special economic zone.Chutima conceded that Thai investors had been reluctant to invest in Cambodia (in part, because of the legacy of anti-Thai riots in Cambodia in early 2003, when some US$50 million of damage was done). But given recent cooperation, she believed, Thailand's investment in the Cambodian economy, particularly in the textile, tourism and fishery industries, investment will continue to increase.Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said Cambodia had recently enjoyed more political stability than in the past several years and continued economic growth is anticipated.In 2005, the country's economy expanded at least 13.4 per cent. It is expected the economy this year would grow no less than 5 per cent despite the global economic slowdown.He said Cambodia had in recent years enjoyed economic growth based on international investment from the country's political stability and impoved adherence to international rules and procedures.The minister said Cambodia had encouraged foreign investors to invest in the country by offering tax incentives such as an exemption of import tariffs.Such an approach had attracted investors from around the world.But, Thailand, which is its neighbour, had a very low portion of investment in Cambodia while South Korea and Japan are top investors. So, he viewed, Thailand had more opportunities to invest in Cambodia.
Thai-Cambodian Economic Ties to Suffer Severely from Riots
The anti-Thai riots and destruction in Cambodia over the past few days would put 40 billion baht (952.4 million US dollars) a year in trade and investment and a tourist market worth 2 billion baht (47.6 milliondollars) between the two countries in jeopardy, the Nation newspaper said Friday. Quoting a forecast of the Thai Farmers Research Centre (TFRC), the report said that the Cambodian crisis could undermine the economic ties between the two neighbors. Last year, trade along their common border was worth 18.7 billion baht (445.2 million dollars), up 18.7 percent from the year before, with Thailand posting a surplus of 17.76 billion baht(422.8 million dollars). Around 400 Thai investors have done business in Cambodia. Thai investment in Cambodia will also be affected, the researchhouse added. With a policy of turning a battlefield into a trade market, Thai investors were keen to develop hotels, restaurants, banks, tourism and telecommunications in Cambodia. Prior to the Asian financial crisis of 1997, Thai investors put around 500 million baht (11.9 million dollars) into the country. Investors were recently looking at joint ventures with Cambodians for casinos near the border areas. But now, those who have investments in Cambodia may hesitate to expand their investments and may revise their business plan for the country. In the field of tourism, the Phnom Penh riots had cut the flow of Thai tourists to Cambodia and could lead many international travelers to think twice before going there, the TFRC said. In 2001, more than 50,000 Thai visitors went to Cambodia by air,and the figure could be significantly higher if those travelling by land were included, the report said.
People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
Current Issues in Thailand Thai-Cambodian Crisis: Impacts on Trade, Investment and Tourism
(30/01/2003)
Recent political chaos in Cambodia has now escalated, bruising diplomatic ties between Thailand and Cambodia severely. This tense international political conflict should be resolved by Thai and Cambodian authorities as soon as possible. The Thai Farmers Research Center (TFRC) has assessed the impacts arising from the Cambodian riots that may possibly have on the Thai economy in three main areas - trade, investment and tourism - as follows: Thai-Cambodian Trade The Cambodian riots have directly and immediately affected the Thai-Cambodian Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting scheduled on January 30, 2002 aimed at bolstering bilateral trade volume and value. Now, however, the meeting has been postponed indefinitely. The unexpected and tragic events have so far damaged the environment of Thai-Cambodian trade which is worth around Bt40 billion annually. The chaotic incident is expected to deal a severe blow to Thai-Cambodian trade in the following aspects: Thai-Cambodian Trade Disrupted Trade between the two countries in the early part of this year is poised to come to a halt given that the conflict may temporarily put off trade between the two countries as Thai and Cambodian businessmen may opt to adopt a wait and see attitude before the situation in Cambodia returns to normalcy. Major Thai exports to Cambodia include finished oil, sugar, motorcycles and parts, beverages, cement and so on. At the same time, Thailand’s main import items from Cambodia include other metals waste and scrap, raw hide and leather, timbers, sawn wood and products, etc. Thai-Cambodian Border Closure…Takes a Toll on Border Trade The reduced level of diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms has inevitably caused the frontier trade between Thailand and Cambodia to come to a halt after the Cambodian authorities ordered the main border check points to be closed. It is a pity as the total border trade (exports plus imports) between Thailand and Cambodia grew by as much as 18.8 percent in 2002. In fact, the border trade between the two countries over the past year was very active, and was poised to flourish even more this year. In 2002, Thai-Cambodian border trade (exports plus imports) totaled Bt18.71 billion, up by 18.8 percent. No conflicts were recorded at the Thai-Cambodian trade border zone over the last year. In 2002, Thailand’s exports to Cambodian were worth Bt18.23 billion, up by 18.7 percent from the same period last year, while Thailand’s imports from the country amounted to Bt479.12 million, rising by 24.7 percent, year-on-year. As a result, Thailand enjoyed a trade surplus with Cambodia of Bt17.75 billion, representing an increase of 18.5 percent from the previous year. The major Thai products exported across the border to Cambodia in 2002 were agro-industrial products, motor cars, motor vehicles and parts, beverages, daily utensils, electrical equipment and parts, etc. The main products that Thailand imported from Cambodia were leather and bovine leather products, steel and products, wood, sawn wood and products, non-electric machinery and parts, fishery products and livestock, etc. Thailand reduces trade assistance to Cambodia Trade assistance that Thailand has given to Cambodia since 1999 until now within the framework of economic cooperation between the two countries, including assistance in setting up domestic trade system, trade registration system, etc. may stall due to the chaos in Cambodia. Impact on investment between Thailand and Cambodia
The former policy of the Thai government in “Turning Battlefields into trade markets” is also the engine stimulating more investment of Thailand in Cambodia. The major sectors that Thai investors are interested in are hotels, restaurants, banks, tourism, telecommunication, etc. On average, Thai entrepreneurs invested in Cambodia around Bt500 million per year before the Asian economic crisis in 1997. However, after the Baht crisis, Thai investment overseas was substantially reduced, including that in Cambodia, particularly the business of banks and finance companies that gradually closed down their affiliates there. The remaining Thai banking affiliates at the moment are Krung Thai Bank and Cambodia Commercial Bank (affiliate of Siam Commercial Bank). The protest in Cambodia has caused widespread chaos resulting in severe damage to Thai business in Cambodia. This grave situation has seriously and totally deteriorated the investment environment, especially the one of Thailand. Impact on Tourism: Thailand loses a market of more than Bt2 billion The chaos in Cambodian heavily impacted on the relations between Thailand and Cambodia in term of tourism. Thailand stands to lose Cambodian tourist market that has dramatically increased over the past 5 years, with a growth rate of 35.4% per year and created revenue to Thai tourism amounting to more than Bt 1billion per year. In 2001, around 80,000 Cambodian tourists traveled to Thailand, which increased by 45% from 2000 and generated revenue in tourism around ofBt 1.5 billion in 2001, an increase of 52% from 2000. If the situation had remained normal, it was expected that, in 2003, more than 100,000 Cambodian tourists would be coming to Thailand, generating revenue of more than Bt2 billion. The Cambodian tours market was booming and creating revenue for many tour companies, including the hotel business of Thai entrepreneurs in Cambodia, and all of these are affected from by these tragic developments as Thai tourists and investors hurriedly travel back to Thailand for fear of danger to their lives.
November 21, 2006
Cambodia's Minister of Commerce welcomes Thai businesses to invest in Cambodia
Thais News
Cambodia’s Senior Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Jom Prasit, indicated that the national tax privileges and the readiness of the national economic and political situation will attract Thai investors to invest in Cambodia.During Thailand-Cambodia conference on investment cooperation today, Mr. Jom revealed that Cambodia is ready to open up its arm if Thai businessmen are interested in expanding their businesses in its Poipet Special Economic Zones. Poipet of Cambodia is near Thailand’s border and this will facilitate the transportation between the two countries. In addition, Cambodia's telecommunication is ready for the economic growth of the areas. He said that Thai investors will be allowed to rent the land at a very low rate.Mr. Jom informed that Cambodia’s economic and political situation has grown steadily. As a WTO member and a key player in the textile industry, he believes that Cambodia's position will help place confidence on Thai investors.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EB04Ae03.html
Southeast Asia
Thai-Cambodia crisis shows old hurts By Chayanit Poonyarat and Johanna Son BANGKOK - Last week's dust-up between Thailand and Cambodia has underscored how a volatile brew made up of simmering resentment of Thailand's role as the heavyweight in the region, combined with a dose of miscommunication, can change bilateral ties from cordial to downright hostile literally overnight. In less than a week, Thailand and Cambodia went from being neighboring countries to nations as far apart as they can be, after ties plummeted to their worst in recent decades. After anti-Thai riots peaked last Wednesday, sparked by supposed remarks by a Thai actress implying that Cambodia had stolen the historic Angkor Wat from Thailand, Bangkok stopped all economic deals with Phnom Penh, halted flights, downgraded its embassy, sealed its borders, and evacuated more than 1,000 nationals. Angry protests were also held at the Cambodian Embassy here, prompting the King to call for calm, after reports that mobs had torched the Thai Embassy and gone after Thai businesses and nationals in Cambodia. By Friday, relative calm had returned to Phnom Penh amid tight security. The Thai government welcomed Cambodian's offer of compensation - damage was estimated at US$23 million - and the arrests of nearly 150 people involved in the riots. One Cambodian was reported to have died in the riots. Phnom Penh issued an apology and broadcast its "most profound regret", which Thailand welcomed. But Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also said, "The two governments are very close but the incident is very unacceptable." The anger and violence left many shaken, exploding as it did so suddenly and over remarks that the actress, Suwanna Kongying, denies saying - and which the Cambodian paper that first reported them said it did not verify before publishing. In hindsight, the actress's remarks were but the match that ignited old issues, coming as they did amid recent border spats. What has been dormant underneath Thai-Cambodian ties is "misunderstanding and bias", said historian Charnvit Kasetsiri of the Five Area Studies Project under the Thailand Research Fund. To many, the riots underscored the resentment against Thailand - its economic and cultural domination - by smaller, poorer neighbors such as Cambodia and Laos. "We have had many things to offer to Cambodia ... economic[ally] and cultur[ally]. The problem is that we have never asked how the Cambodians think and feel about that," Kraisak Choonhawan, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at a discussion on Friday. "There is enormous investment of Thais in Cambodia but nobody has ever raised the question of how much the local[s] get from this," said Charnvit. Indeed, Thai-owned businesses from hotels and restaurants and firms such as Shinawatra telecommunications - owned by no less than Thaksin - bore the brunt of Cambodians' rage. Those economic ties are now in jeopardy. In the 1980s, bilateral ties were supposed to become better after Bangkok said it was time to turn the battlefields of Indochina into a marketplace. Today, "as a more developed nation, we enjoy an advantage in pursuing business interests in Cambodia, Laos and Burma. But we have done this so aggressively and so successfully that we appear guilty of economic colonization," said the Bangkok Post in its editorial on Friday. "Cultural dominance has accompanied this economic infiltration so that Lao and Cambodian youths almost exclusively listen to Thai music, watch Thai movies and seek to emulate the singers and actors they see on Thai television programs," it added. "This makes it easy for Cambodian politicians and the media to exploit a natural resentment. It is ironic that these same tactics by our own political leaders - stirring nationalism and anti-foreign sentiment (in our case 'the West') - should return to taunt us," the Post argued. In many ways, some say, it is like a love-hate relationship between Thailand and its neighbors. Despite resentment by Laos and Cambodia, Thai culture - products, songs, television shows, pop idols - are the craze among young people there. Suwanna herself was among the most popular Thai actresses in Cambodia. Kraisak said, "It might not be too difficult to imagine how it would feel like to wake up having to listen to Thai music and watch Thai television programs every day." For example, "young Cambodians had once displayed Suwanna's photos in their homes, in place of their parents or the Cambodian King and Queen", said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, adding that after her remarks people were now destroying her photos. Old historical hurts and wars have not helped any. But there have been good times too - Thailand sheltered anti-Phnom Penh forces during the Khmer Rouge's rule and took in hundreds of thousands of refugees in the 1970s. Cambodia had suspended diplomatic ties before over insults by Thai military strongmen. The two countries squabbled over the Preah Vihear temple that Cambodia won in the World Court in 1962. Likewise, Charnvit said, "In the historical textbooks, we learn about [Thai] King Naresuan killing the king of Cambodia as revenge back in 1593. The memory easily pops up in many Thais' minds when talk about relation between the two. "How can we deal with our neighbors peacefully and respectfully and still hold on to such perceptions?" he asked, adding that a recent study has proved that this historical record is mistaken. Some Thai analysts, along with local media, believe that domestic Cambodian politics - general elections are due in July - are a factor in the riots, after Hun Sen condemned Suvanan's supposed remarks and added even more to widespread anger. But Charnvit says it is time to look beyond the actress's remarks, Hun Sen's adding fuel to the fire and his supposed use of the nationalism card with a view to the polls, to see what has made bilateral ties so volatile beneath the surface. He added: "We cannot go on without fixing the misunderstanding and bias in our minds. We should keep in mind that history reminds us that some mistakes cannot be repeated." (Inter Press Service)
Gambling tourism destroys Cambodia’s social fabric
Dear colleagues and friends,
Gambling kingpins in the frontier town Poipet can see their business fortunes restored now that the Thai-Cambodia border is open again. But for many Thai workers and Cambodians here, their lives will still be mired in poverty. On 5 March 2003, the Cambodian government had closed two major border passes with Thailand in retaliation against Bangkok barring Thais from crossing in Cambodia, following anti-Thai rioting in Phnom Penh in January.
KHAN SOPHIROM, of the Khmer-language newspaper ‘Koh Santepheap’ in Phnom Penh, investigated the impacts of border casinos and related tourism along the Thai-Cambodian border. We are presenting here a slightly shortened version of his report ‘Las Vegas in Cambodia’, which is a chapter in the new book ‘Invisible Borders – Reportage from Our Mekong’, published by the International Press Service (IPS) Asia-Pacific with support from the Rockefeller Foundation-Southeast Asia (Bangkok 2003). For more information on the IPS project ‘Our Mekong’ and other interesting stories from across the region, please visit the IPS news site http://www.ipsnews.net/mekong/index.shtml.
Yours truly,
Anita Pleumarom
Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team
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GAMBLING TOURISM DESTROYS CAMBODIA’S SOCIAL FABRIC
By Khan Sophirom
POIPET, a town in Cambodia’s northwestern O’Chreuv district by the border with Thailand, looks like the closest place to paradise in this country, but walking just 100 metres outside the casino zone leads one back into rural, poor Cambodia.
The roads and lawns around the seven luxury hotel-and-casino resorts in Poipet (an eigth is under construction) are well-manicured and street sweepers brush trash into neat piles all day long, while trucks spray water to keep the dust down. This water supply, by the way, does not go beyond the strip of casinos.
“Slippery and muddy roads are always there when it rains, and then they become dirt roads when it is dry and hot,” shrugs Lo Chan, a 36-year-old motorbike driver here.
Heaps of uncollected garbage lie along the roadside and local Cambodians eking out a living in the numerous shanties all over Poipet complain of a severe lack of clean drinking water. But the façade of modernity and comfort is enough to keep high-rolling gamblers coming – after all, 99 percent of the visitors here rarely venture outside the casino area.
On Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., hundreds of Thai tourists – who make up most of the foreign visitors here – pass the international border gate between eastern Thailand and western Cambodia and are transported to the casinos in air-conditioned mini-buses.
More than 1,000 Thais cross the border every day, according to police officers in Sakaeo, whose Aranyaprathet district lies just across Poipet. For these high-rollers, who might gamble away in a single night an equivalent of a Cambodian worker’s lifetime earnings, every imaginable sensual pleasure can be found in Poipet’s casino enclave.
High-stakes clients, who have at least one million baht (US$23,800) to burn, are treated like royalty with offers of free accommodation in the best hotel rooms attached to the casinos.
Casinos are banned in Thailand, and Poipet is easily accessible by a three-hour drive from Bangkok. Crossing the border for an all-day, all-night or all-week gambling session is not much of a problem. Cambodian immigration authorities issue either 10-hour entry permits for Thais without a passport or week-long border passes for all passport holders with a valid Cambodian visa.
And to make things easier, all of Poipet’s casinos also accept Thai baht.
The tax revenues from the casinos are big business for the Cambodian government, which in 2001 expected to collect 16 billion riel (about US$4 million). But this comes at a price. Prostitution, rampant drug-use and robberies are rife in the town.
While the casinos employ Cambodians – O’Chreuv district police records indicate that about 75 percent of the more than 4,000 casino employees are Cambodians -, the locals are barred from gambling. It is good that Cambodians are not allowed to play, but the question is, what good do the casinos really bring to the locals, asks Chea Vannath, president of the Social Development Centre.
Chan Tha is a 23-year-old sex worker who came to Poipet about six years ago, like many other Cambodians drawn by the prospect of a bustling town, tourists and travelers – and making a quick buck.
She was 16 or 17 then, her marriage had just ended and she needed money to feed her family in Svay Rieng. She says she has one to three clients – Cambodians – in a day, sometimes none, but can no longer live on the money she makes here. “After a week, when I get my salary from the brothel owner, I will go to O’smach.”
O’smach is another border area, one of four places in Cambodia that is home to casinos. In O’smach, a friend has told her, the money from sex work is better.
Then, there is the sex work inside the casinos, although non-government workers say they are hampered in their efforts to ascertain the number of prostitutes there because locals are banned from the gambling floor and out of fear of the mafia, who many say operate in the casinos.
“We don’t believe there are no sex workers in the casinos. It’s just that we are not clear whether they are Cambodians or foreigners, because we can’t enter the casinos,” said a worker with the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Centre.
But former NGO worker Sao Chhoeurth was more forthcoming on the connection between mafia gamblers in the casinos and human trafficking. “These guys are usually high-rollers and if they see a beautiful Cambodian woman, who usually is the croupier or someone working in the bar, they’ll approach the manager saying they want to have sex with her.”
Sao Chhoeurth went on. “The manager will obviously say yes because these gamblers spend huge sums of money. They then sleep with the woman who gets paid 2,500 baht (US$59,52) by each gambler.”
“That’s not the end of it,” added Sao Chhoeurth. “They try to entice her to move to Bangkok with lucrative job offers and a glamorous lifestyle. Of course, wanting a better life, she agrees, but only to find herself cheated and enslaved.”
Poipet homemaker Vong Chan Theoun said one of her casino friends was lured to Thailand under similar promises of a high-paying job and a luxurious life. “She left two years ago and we haven’t heard from her since then,” said Chan Theoun.
Many Cambodians in Poipet are reluctant to be named for fear of reprisals from the mafia in the casinos.
In January 2002, media reported a series of bomb blasts in the casino strip and insiders said they were targeted at a prominent Thai politician and his family who were at the Princess Hotel and Casino Resort. An influential gambling tycoon hid him and his family and later sent him back to Thailand under the protection of body guards.
As Chan Tha’s case shows, the rise of casinos has also caused a population boom in the frontier town. According to Poipet’s new commune clerk San Seang Hou,, appointed by the Ministry of Interior, the town’s population has increased to about 30,000 families from the 1998 National Census estimate of 9,244 families.
According to O’Chreuv district records, Poipet is now Cambodia’s largest commune with over 100,000 people. (The common councils were the creation of the French colonialists in 1908, helping to serve as administrative units to control the Cambodians and to raise taxes.)
But a medical aide in a district hospital in O’Chreuv said many Cambodians came to Poipet with false expectations. “Many hope to find jobs in the casinos, but end up being trafficked to neighbouring Thailand as illegal workers on construction sites or sex workers in brothels,” said the medical aide who did not want to be named. “A large number of Poipet’s current inhabitants are landless farmers who have come from communes in other provinces to escape unemployment and misery.”
He added: “Lots of children, too, have made their way here and they are either street beggars asking money from the huge number of foreigners going to the casinos or car park attendants demanding payment from the gamblers in order for their cars not to be stolen.”
“Most of these children have very poor education and don’t have the support of family members. Glue-sniffing and amphetamine use are rampant to drown the hunger, loneliness and lack of family love,” said the medical aide.
Poipet, during the Cambodian war, was a transit point for Cambodian refugees and a smuggling route for Thai traders operating in the Rong Kloeu market, located on the Thai side of the border facing Poipet.
Soon after the war in 1992, when Cambodia was administered by the United Nations, Poipet was opened as a border crossing on Route 5 on the way to Phnom Penh. In late 1998, Poipet was accorded the status of an international border gate between Cambodia and Thailand to facilitate overland trade and tourism between the two countries.
In that year, too, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen embarked on a plan to promote foreign investment in the country by seeking overseas capital in casinos along the Thai-Cambodian border. Ironically, Hun Sen also closed all casinos operating in the vicinity of Phnom Penh and ordered them to be relocated at least 200 kilometres from the capital, saying these establishments were leading to increased crime and were involved in a spate of kidnapping of wealthy businessmen for ransom.
But one casino – the Naga Resort – run by the controversial Malaysian company Ariston, managed to stay put in the Cambodian capital after winning its battle against the government in a Phnom Penh court. In 1994, the government signed an agreement with Ariston permitting the company to run the only casino operation in Cambodia. However, other gambling permits were later handed out, so Ariston chose to settle for an agreement that made it the only casino operator within 200 km of Phnom Penh.
Poipet’s first casino, the Holiday Palace began operating in early 1999 and the Golden Crown Casino Hotel and Resort, with poker, baccarat, roulette and blackjack tables and slot machines, soon followed suit.
Within a span of two years, five other casinos sprang up – Grand Diamond Resort, Tropicana Resort and Hotel, Casino Star Vegas Resort, Holiday Poipet Resort and Princess Hotel and Casino – boasting luxury rooms, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, shopping centers and massage parlours.
Meantime, Thai authorities are becoming increasingly worried about the huge sums of money spent by their citizens in casinos in neighbouring countries. A study by the Bangkok-based Chulalongkorn University last year put that amount at between 71 and 84 billion bath (US$1.7 to 2 billion) a year.
The study added that gambling among Thais – who are only allowed to wage their bets, back home, on horse-racing and the government-run lottery – had become widespread and caused many people, especially those from the lower income levels, financial problems. It also said that the money channeled through different forms of gambling amounted to almost 40 percent of the local economy.
The district officer of Aranyaprathet, Seree Suasang Thong, said casinos are not good for Thais because many people lose their money and property, and gambling has destroyed many families.
Likewise, one villager in Balilay in Poipet mused, no one really gets rich by gambling. “If today you win, you have a good chance tomorrow. But tomorrow, you will lose more than you won yesterday, so nobody can win forever.”
While Poipet’s commune clerk San Seang Hou argues that the casinos provide jobs for Cambodians, opposition politicians and activists, however, question the government’s rationale for resorting to transnational gambling to spur economic growth – and voice their many worries about the high social cost of this policy.
“The present engine of growth are gambling, logging, drug trafficking, prostitution and cheap labour industries. This type of growth is not sound,” said former finance minister Sam Rainsy in a letter to a 2001 donors’ conference in Tokyo.
The social and environmental costs that are associated with this type of growth will translate into heavy economic costs in the coming years, resulting in the rise in criminality, natural disasters (flood and drought) resulting in crop destruction and food shortage, increasing drug addiction, the spread of AIDS and the destruction of the nation’s social fabric,” wrote Sam Rainsy, founder of a political party that bears his name.
In the local government elections in February 2002, the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) won control of Poipet, and Sok Savann is now the leader of the commune council.
Sok Savann feels he is banging his head against the wall in trying to get information from the casinos – vital ones, like the amount of taxes they pay the government and the actual names on the gambling permits. “The casinos feel they are untouchable and local authorities just turn a blind eye. They feel we have no right to talk to them, despite being elected by the people,” he said.
“Whenever we want to meet the manager to discuss details like the amount of taxes they pay or how they receive their licences, we will be told that he’s either busy or not in the office,” added the SRP commune council chief. But Sok Savann issued a stern warning. “If they keep turning us away, we will consider putting a referendum to the people on whether there should be a moratorium on gambling.”
Chean Vannath, the activist, argued that the casinos have sullied Cambodia’s reputation. “Casinos just breed crime and all kinds of bad elements are there under one roof. Why not get rid of all of them and look at other alternatives instead?” she asked.
“Cambodians are hardworking and honest and our country can be self-reliant through different means. It doesn’t have to be gambling and this country wasn’t built for gamblers,” she said.
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