Cambodian king to make historic state visit to Vietnam
PHNOM PENH - King Norodom Sihamoni will make a state visit to Vietnam next week, the first by a Cambodian monarch since Vietnam toppled the
Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, the Cambodian prime minister said.
The March 16-18 trip follows the signing of a controversial border agreement between the two nations and comes after this week's visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, his counterpart Hun Sen said in a statement.
"This first-ever state visit to Vietnam 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 neighbourliness... and long-term stability," the joint statement by the premiers said.
Cambodia and Vietnam want to boost bilateral trade to one billion dollars in 2006, up over 40 percent year-on-year, Hun Sen said Tuesday.
On Monday, he and Phan Van Khai signed a deal to help demarcate their contentious border, following on from a border agreement the two signed in Hanoi in October aimed at resolving decades of territorial disputes.
Border feuds tap into an often virulent anti-Vietnamese sentiment in Cambodia, fuelled by resentment of Vietnam's expansion over the centuries.
The rise to power of Cambodia's current government after the genocidal 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime was backed by communist Vietnam and the two retain close links.
The trip is the king's second state visit abroad since he took the throne in October 2004 following the surprise abdication of his father, Norodom Sihanouk.
Agence France Presse - March 8, 2006.
Cambodia and Vietnam want to boost bilateral trade to one billion dollars in 2006
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia and Vietnam want to boost bilateral trade to one billion dollars in 2006, up over 40 percent year-on-year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has said.
"It is not difficult for the two neighboring countries to boost trade to reach one billion dollars," Hun Sen told a business forum, which was also presided by visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
Phan Van Khai was in Cambodia for a two-day state visit and would leave the kingdom later in the day.
"Vietnam has lots of goods, but lacks the market, while Cambodia has the market, but doesn't have goods," Hun Sen said, adding bilateral trade topped 700 million dollars in 2005.
The Cambodian leader urged Vietnam to invest more in the kingdom, adding that Vietnam had agreed to scrap tariffs on 40 agricultural products from Cambodia.
On Monday, Hun Sen and Phan Van Khai signed a deal to help Phnom Penh to demarcate their contentious border.
In October, the two leaders inked a controversial deal in Hanoi aimed at resolving decades of territorial disputes. The treaty resolves six of seven border disputes with Vietnam, and calls for marking the border with poles by December 2008.
Hun Sen's critics and opponents of the border deal complain it cedes too much land to Vietnam, but the prime minister has flatly denied their arguments.
Nearly a dozen government critics opposing the deal were either jailed or faced punishment under criminal defamation laws that rights groups and diplomats said were being used by Hun Sen to silence dissent.
Earlier this year, they were released on bail and later the Cambodian prime minister asked the courts to drop all defamation charges against them.
Border feuds tap into an often virulent anti-Vietnamese sentiment in Cambodia, fuelled by resentment of Vietnam's expansion over the centuries.
Their 1,100-kilometer (680-mile) border left over from French colonial times remains vague as stone markers and boundary flags have disappeared, while trees lining it have been cut down.
Agence France Presse - March 7, 2006.
Hun Sen expects Vietnam-Cambodia trade to grow to US$1 billion
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, pinning high hopes on trade relations with Vietnam, said yesterday that he wanted to see two-way trade to rise to US$1 billion a year in the future.
Speaking at a Vietnam-Cambodia business forum organized on the occasion of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai’s two-day Cambodia visit ending yesterday, Hun Sen appreciated Vietnam’s exemption of 40 Cambodian exports from taxes, the Vietnam News Agency reports.
He urged Vietnamese companies to boost investment in infrastructure in Cambodia, including building bridges in Phnom Penh, and enhance cooperation, especially in electricity and seaport services, with Cambodian partners.
Companies from the two countries should quickly develop border economic zones as the two countries plan to complete the installation of border landmarks by 2008, he said.
Vietnamese businesses should study the Cambodian market to expand trade, PM Khai said, citing that trade between the two neighboring nations had yet to match the potential.
The two government leaders also witnessed the signing at the forum of a deal to build a service and housing center worth US$40 million between Transport Work Construction Company 5 of Vietnam and EVA Corporation of Cambodia.
The forum held by the Vietnam and Phnom Penh chambers of commerce and industry was attended by around 300 Vietnamese and Cambodian business executives.
PM Khai met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Acting Parliament Speaker Heng Somrin and President of the Senate Chea Sim.
King Sihamoni described the Cambodia visit by Khai as important to the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
PM Khai expressed his pleasure to visit Cambodia and conveyed the best regards from Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Tran Duc Luong and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An to King Sihamoni, Parliament Speaker Heng Somrin and President of the Senate Chea Sim.
He said the two countries should work harder to boost Vietnam-Cambodia relations to a higher plane on the basis of respecting good neighborliness, traditional friendship, and long-lasting stability.
Khai affirmed Vietnam’s persistent policy and determination to do its utmost to preserve and foster the good relationship, considering it invaluable for younger generations. Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said PM Khai’s visit to Cambodia was successful as it helped further enhance traditional ties between the two countries.
The two government leaders agreed to increase bilateral ties in various fields and discussed plans for raising the two countries’ economic relations on a par with diplomatic ties, he told the Vietnam News Agency and Vietnam Television.
They showed the determination to develop the two countries’ border areas into special economic zones, advancing peace, stability and prosperity, said the diplomat, who accompanied Khai in the trip.
They reached agreement on intensifying cooperation to help maintain security, economic development and social stability in each country.
He said Hun Sen confirmed his country’s support for Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in 2008-09.
Khai said Vietnam as the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2006 would back Cambodia’s bid to gain APEC membership.
By Pham Vu - The Saigon Times Daily - March 8, 2006.
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