PHNOM PENH, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed outright and two others were seriously injured in a car collision on Sunday in Cheung Prey district, Kampong Cham province, some 124 kilometers Northeastern Phnom Penh, said Nhem Phal, the district’s deputy police chief.
The collision occurred at around 6:30 am between Ssangyong-branded car and a goods truck at the National road No. 6.
“The two cars drove in an opposite direction and both were in high speed and hit head-on,” he said. “Five people--two men and three women--were killed on the spot and two others were in critical condition.”
He said that all the victims were in Ssangyong-branded car.
The death toll of road accidents has become the No. 1 killer in Cambodia among those of HIV/AIDS and mine casualties.
In the first six months of this year, 941 people were killed by road accidents and
4,331 people were injured, recorded the Overland Transport Department of the Ministry of Public Work and Transport.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Cambodian children killed by dengue fever rise to 29 so far this year
PHNOM PENH, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Saturday reported 5,401 cases of dengue fever so far this year, 69 percent rise from 3,200 cases during the same period last year.
Among the cases, 29 Cambodian children had been killed, up from just 9 deaths during the same period last year, Ngan Chantha, director of dengue control at the Ministry of Health, said during a dengue fever prevention campaign on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium.
“There will be the possible large-scale outbreak of dengue fever this year if there is no concerted effort to prevent it,” he said, recalling that the large-scale outbreak in 2007 killed up to 316 children.
“We call for all parents, guardians and students to kill larvae by using the chemical substance known as Abate in water pots and other still water sources,” he said. “We have to fill in puddles around houses, which are sources of mosquitoes.”
“Parents should let their children sleep under mosquito nets,” he added.
Dengue is caused by mosquitoes. The disease causes an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands and rash.
The outbreak of dengue fever usually begins at the onset of the rainy season from May to October in Cambodia.
Last year, the disease killed 37 Cambodian children.
Among the cases, 29 Cambodian children had been killed, up from just 9 deaths during the same period last year, Ngan Chantha, director of dengue control at the Ministry of Health, said during a dengue fever prevention campaign on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium.
“There will be the possible large-scale outbreak of dengue fever this year if there is no concerted effort to prevent it,” he said, recalling that the large-scale outbreak in 2007 killed up to 316 children.
“We call for all parents, guardians and students to kill larvae by using the chemical substance known as Abate in water pots and other still water sources,” he said. “We have to fill in puddles around houses, which are sources of mosquitoes.”
“Parents should let their children sleep under mosquito nets,” he added.
Dengue is caused by mosquitoes. The disease causes an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands and rash.
The outbreak of dengue fever usually begins at the onset of the rainy season from May to October in Cambodia.
Last year, the disease killed 37 Cambodian children.
Border disputes threaten to ASEAN community formation by 2015: Cambodian DPM
PHNOM PENH, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral disputes, especially border rows, have been posing a severe threat to the establishment of the ASEAN community in the next four years, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, minister of economy and finance, said on Saturday.
“Bilateral disputes among a number of ASEAN member countries, such as border disputes, have become the foremost critical challenges for ASEAN in their pursuit towards the establishment of the ASEAN community in 2015,” he told the 7th Asian Economic Forum under the theme: “The Asian Century in the Making: The Role of the ASEAN”.
“Therefore, there is a need for ASEAN to put in place a practical mechanism for an effective dispute settlement in the region, thus ensuring regional peace, security and sustainability, especially among member countries,” said the Minister.
The remark referred to the simmering border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over the area next to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple since 2008, which has claimed dozens of lives of the two countries’ soldiers and civilians.
“To address this issue, ASEAN still needs to complete the full legal framework in line with its charter including the institutionalization of a dispute settlement mechanism, improved operational efficiency of ASEAN bodies and modalities in order to transform ASEAN into a new stage of community building process and a rule-based institutional organization,” he said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
“Bilateral disputes among a number of ASEAN member countries, such as border disputes, have become the foremost critical challenges for ASEAN in their pursuit towards the establishment of the ASEAN community in 2015,” he told the 7th Asian Economic Forum under the theme: “The Asian Century in the Making: The Role of the ASEAN”.
“Therefore, there is a need for ASEAN to put in place a practical mechanism for an effective dispute settlement in the region, thus ensuring regional peace, security and sustainability, especially among member countries,” said the Minister.
The remark referred to the simmering border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over the area next to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple since 2008, which has claimed dozens of lives of the two countries’ soldiers and civilians.
“To address this issue, ASEAN still needs to complete the full legal framework in line with its charter including the institutionalization of a dispute settlement mechanism, improved operational efficiency of ASEAN bodies and modalities in order to transform ASEAN into a new stage of community building process and a rule-based institutional organization,” he said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Germany defeats Cambodia for Disabled Volleyball World Cup 2011
PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Germany’s disabled volleyball team on Friday beat host Cambodia’s 3:1 in the final tournament for the 2011 Disabled Volleyball World Cup.
This is the third time Germany won the Cup.
In the matches on Friday afternoon at the capital’s Olympic Stadium, Germany defeated Cambodia three sets to one at 25-17, 25-21, 26-28, and 25-21.
“No matter who is the winner, the competitions have created closer relations among athletes with disability in the participating countries,” Ith Samheng, Cambodian minister of social affairs, veteran and youth rehabilitation, said during the tournament closing ceremony.
“It also reflects ability, talent, endeavor and potential of persons with disability,” he said.
The 2011 Disabled Volleyball World Cup had kicked off on July 23 with the participation of disabled volleyball teams from six countries including Cambodia, Germany, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Laos and Sri Lanka.
This is the third time Germany won the Cup.
In the matches on Friday afternoon at the capital’s Olympic Stadium, Germany defeated Cambodia three sets to one at 25-17, 25-21, 26-28, and 25-21.
“No matter who is the winner, the competitions have created closer relations among athletes with disability in the participating countries,” Ith Samheng, Cambodian minister of social affairs, veteran and youth rehabilitation, said during the tournament closing ceremony.
“It also reflects ability, talent, endeavor and potential of persons with disability,” he said.
The 2011 Disabled Volleyball World Cup had kicked off on July 23 with the participation of disabled volleyball teams from six countries including Cambodia, Germany, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Laos and Sri Lanka.
Cambodia to host GMS economic ministers’ meeting next week
PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The six participating countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program will gather here on August 2-4 in the 17th GMS Ministerial Conference to review and agree on the new GMS Strategic Framework for 2012-2022, said a press release from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday.
The new Strategic Framework is a road map for moving the GMS Program forward in the light of changing global and regional context, as well as emerging issues such as climate change, changing social and demographic trends, and changing balance of economic activity in Asia, said the statement.
The framework will help the subregion through “second generation” cooperation, including infrastructure investment establishing the GMS economic corridors.
“This Ministerial Conference is particularly significant since the new Strategic Framework marks a generational gear shift for the GMS Program and will imply significant changes to the type of projects and initiatives pursued in the next phase,” said Kunio Senga, Director General of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department.
“These changes have important implications for not just the GMS Program but all its stakeholders, including development partners and GMS countries,” he added.
Since its establishment in 1992, the highly successful GMS Program has been contributing to economic growth in the subregion, averaging more than 6 percent in the last 15 years.
By the end of June 2011, the ADB had extended loans and grants totaling almost 5 billion U.S. dollars for 55 projects in the subregion, mainly infrastructure.
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The new Strategic Framework is a road map for moving the GMS Program forward in the light of changing global and regional context, as well as emerging issues such as climate change, changing social and demographic trends, and changing balance of economic activity in Asia, said the statement.
The framework will help the subregion through “second generation” cooperation, including infrastructure investment establishing the GMS economic corridors.
“This Ministerial Conference is particularly significant since the new Strategic Framework marks a generational gear shift for the GMS Program and will imply significant changes to the type of projects and initiatives pursued in the next phase,” said Kunio Senga, Director General of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department.
“These changes have important implications for not just the GMS Program but all its stakeholders, including development partners and GMS countries,” he added.
Since its establishment in 1992, the highly successful GMS Program has been contributing to economic growth in the subregion, averaging more than 6 percent in the last 15 years.
By the end of June 2011, the ADB had extended loans and grants totaling almost 5 billion U.S. dollars for 55 projects in the subregion, mainly infrastructure.
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Cambodia sends 32 soldiers to join multi-national military exercise in Mongolia
PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Friday morning dispatched a group of 32 soldiers to take part in the multi- national military exercise 2011 in Mongolia from July 29 to August 13.
Speaking at the Phnom Penh International Airport before departure, Choeun Chamnith, a battalion commander at the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, who leads the mission team, said that the participation would give chance to Cambodian troops to exchange knowledge and skills with other countries’ soldiers.
“It will help upgrade our troops’ capacity in military skills, rescue and humanitarian activities,” he said.
He added that the participation is a part of international peacekeeping operations under the framework of the United Nations and it reflects cooperation among countries in the region in peacekeeping efforts.
The participating countries in the Mongolia’s exercise are Cambodia, United States of America, Canada, India, China, Japan, Singapore, Russia and Vietnam.
This was the third time Cambodia has sent troops to join exercises in Mongolia.
Speaking at the Phnom Penh International Airport before departure, Choeun Chamnith, a battalion commander at the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, who leads the mission team, said that the participation would give chance to Cambodian troops to exchange knowledge and skills with other countries’ soldiers.
“It will help upgrade our troops’ capacity in military skills, rescue and humanitarian activities,” he said.
He added that the participation is a part of international peacekeeping operations under the framework of the United Nations and it reflects cooperation among countries in the region in peacekeeping efforts.
The participating countries in the Mongolia’s exercise are Cambodia, United States of America, Canada, India, China, Japan, Singapore, Russia and Vietnam.
This was the third time Cambodia has sent troops to join exercises in Mongolia.
84th anniversary of Chinese People’s Liberation Army celebrated in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Embassy of China to Cambodia on Thursday evening celebrated the 84th birthday of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The celebration had been taken part by some 300 people, who are Cambodian senior military officials, military attaché to foreign embassies in Cambodia, Chinese businesspeople and Chinese community in Cambodia.
It was also attended by the defense Secretary of State Moeung Samphan, Military Police Chief Sao Sokha and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son Hun Manet, deputy commander of the Headquarter of Infantry and head of Anti-Terrorism Unit.
Speaking during the event, Zhang Jianlin, Chinese military attaché to Cambodia, said on August 1, 2011 will be the 84th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
In 84 years, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has achieved huge feats in building modern and capable army to defend national sovereignty and territory integrity, and people, he said, adding that Chinese army always sticks to “peaceful and self- defensive policy.”
On the foreign affairs policy, Chinese People’s Liberation Army has created friendship relations and cooperation with most countries in the world.
“For Cambodia, Chinese People’s Liberation Army has always paid attention to help the country to build its military capacity in order to strengthen peace, stability and national unity,” he said. “Our assistance always respects to the sovereignty and territory integrity of Cambodia.”
Meanwhile, Pinn Seth Thol, deputy director of the Defense Ministry’s International Relations Department, on behalf of the government of Cambodia and Defense Ministry, expressed congratulation to China on the occasion.
“Take this occasion, Cambodia would like to express our deepest thanks to the government, the Army and the people of China for their continual support to Cambodian armed forces technically and financially.
The celebration had been taken part by some 300 people, who are Cambodian senior military officials, military attaché to foreign embassies in Cambodia, Chinese businesspeople and Chinese community in Cambodia.
It was also attended by the defense Secretary of State Moeung Samphan, Military Police Chief Sao Sokha and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son Hun Manet, deputy commander of the Headquarter of Infantry and head of Anti-Terrorism Unit.
Speaking during the event, Zhang Jianlin, Chinese military attaché to Cambodia, said on August 1, 2011 will be the 84th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
In 84 years, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has achieved huge feats in building modern and capable army to defend national sovereignty and territory integrity, and people, he said, adding that Chinese army always sticks to “peaceful and self- defensive policy.”
On the foreign affairs policy, Chinese People’s Liberation Army has created friendship relations and cooperation with most countries in the world.
“For Cambodia, Chinese People’s Liberation Army has always paid attention to help the country to build its military capacity in order to strengthen peace, stability and national unity,” he said. “Our assistance always respects to the sovereignty and territory integrity of Cambodia.”
Meanwhile, Pinn Seth Thol, deputy director of the Defense Ministry’s International Relations Department, on behalf of the government of Cambodia and Defense Ministry, expressed congratulation to China on the occasion.
“Take this occasion, Cambodia would like to express our deepest thanks to the government, the Army and the people of China for their continual support to Cambodian armed forces technically and financially.
Cambodia, Malaysia pledge to strengthen military ties
PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Malaysia on Thursday pledged to strengthen military relations and cooperation in the framework of the same member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Speaking during a meeting with Cambodian Minister of Defense Tea Banh, the visiting Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his visit to Cambodia was to seek Cambodia’s support for Malaysian initiative to establish military industry in ASEAN in order to produce its own military equipment.
He also promised to accept more Cambodian military personnel to train in Malaysia.
At the mean time, Ahmad Zahid expressed support to the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 asking Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple and also ordered both parties to continue cooperating within ASEAN and allow appointed observers access to the provisional demilitarized zone.
“The ICJ’s order has signaled a good sign of peace for Cambodia and Thailand on border conflict next to the Preah Vihear temple,” he said. “It also brings peace to the whole region.”
In response, Tea Banh said Cambodia fully supported Malaysian initiative for military industry and thanked Malaysia for constant assistance to Cambodian defense sector.
Later in the day, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Ahmad Zahid said during the visit, he had brought 10,200 copies of the holy Quran and 1,000 prayer mats to distribute to the Muslim community in Cambodia.
He arrived in Cambodia Wednesday for a three-day official visit to the country.
Speaking during a meeting with Cambodian Minister of Defense Tea Banh, the visiting Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his visit to Cambodia was to seek Cambodia’s support for Malaysian initiative to establish military industry in ASEAN in order to produce its own military equipment.
He also promised to accept more Cambodian military personnel to train in Malaysia.
At the mean time, Ahmad Zahid expressed support to the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 asking Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel currently present in the provisional demilitarized zone around the area of Preah Vihear temple and also ordered both parties to continue cooperating within ASEAN and allow appointed observers access to the provisional demilitarized zone.
“The ICJ’s order has signaled a good sign of peace for Cambodia and Thailand on border conflict next to the Preah Vihear temple,” he said. “It also brings peace to the whole region.”
In response, Tea Banh said Cambodia fully supported Malaysian initiative for military industry and thanked Malaysia for constant assistance to Cambodian defense sector.
Later in the day, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Ahmad Zahid said during the visit, he had brought 10,200 copies of the holy Quran and 1,000 prayer mats to distribute to the Muslim community in Cambodia.
He arrived in Cambodia Wednesday for a three-day official visit to the country.
GMS countries’ environment ministers endorse 2nd 5-year environment cooperation
PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ministers of Environment of the six Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries on Thursday endorsed the regional action plan 2012-2016 for environment cooperation to ensure balanced and sustainable economic growth, according to a joint ministerial statement.
The second five-year strategic plan on the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI) in the GMS countries will mainly focus on environmental planning systems, methods and safeguards; management of trans-boundary biodiversity conservation landscapes and local livelihoods; climate resilient investments and low carbon strategies; and institutions and financing for sustainable environmental management.
“We expect that our efforts through the CEP-BCI 2012-2016 will further strengthen institutional and human resource capacity which is key to achieving our vision of a poverty free and ecologically rich in GMS,” said the statement after the 3rd GMS environment ministers’ meeting.
“We encourage the development of a green, inclusive, and balanced economy in the GMS countries,” it said. “We welcome the investments in agriculture, energy, tourism, transport sectors.”
Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said the GMS environment ministers are proposing around 26.5 million U.S. dollars to implement the second phase action plan.
“The plan is to protect and conserve our ecosystems and biodiversity in the GMS countries,” he said. “It is also to ensure the sustainability of each country’s economic development.”
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The second five-year strategic plan on the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI) in the GMS countries will mainly focus on environmental planning systems, methods and safeguards; management of trans-boundary biodiversity conservation landscapes and local livelihoods; climate resilient investments and low carbon strategies; and institutions and financing for sustainable environmental management.
“We expect that our efforts through the CEP-BCI 2012-2016 will further strengthen institutional and human resource capacity which is key to achieving our vision of a poverty free and ecologically rich in GMS,” said the statement after the 3rd GMS environment ministers’ meeting.
“We encourage the development of a green, inclusive, and balanced economy in the GMS countries,” it said. “We welcome the investments in agriculture, energy, tourism, transport sectors.”
Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said the GMS environment ministers are proposing around 26.5 million U.S. dollars to implement the second phase action plan.
“The plan is to protect and conserve our ecosystems and biodiversity in the GMS countries,” he said. “It is also to ensure the sustainability of each country’s economic development.”
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
China pledges active support to GMS countries in environment, biodiversity conservation
PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The government of China will still continue its active support to the Greater Mekong Sub- region (GMS) countries in order to strengthen and expand the sub-regional environmental cooperation, Xu Qinghua, special representative of Zhou Shengxian, minister of environmental protection of China, said here on Thursday.
“As a long-time supporter for GMS cooperation, China will continue to be an active player in promoting environmental cooperation in the sub-regional to promote sustainable development,” he said during the 3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting.
The six countries in the GMS countries include China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
“The Chinese government attaches great importance to cooperating with other GMS countries and we deem good domestic environmental performance as the basis for better sub-regional cooperation,” he said.
Xu continued to say that China plans to provide portable water and air monitoring equipment to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam in order to help strengthen their officials’ management capacity on environmental protection affairs.
“Besides these, we will also organize policy and technical training programs on urban solid waste management for GMS countries,” he said. “We hope to do what we can to help improve regional environmental management capacity.”
Meanwhile, Xu said that Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, which are the main players in China participating in GMS cooperative activities, have witnessed overall stable environmental quality and improved environmental management capacity.
By 2010, in Yunnan province alone, there are 162 nature reserves, including 16 national reserves, covering a total area of 2.96 million hectares, he said.
In Guangxi autonomous region, there are also 78 nature reserves of different kinds with a total area of 1.45 million hectares.
The forest coverage of the two provinces reached 47.5 percent and 58 percent respectively.
The GMS countries have engaged in regional environmental cooperation since 2006 through the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI). This 30 million U.S. dollar program is expected to end in December 2011.
Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said Thursday that the the 3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting would endorse the action plan 2012-2016 of CEP-BCI for environment cooperation to ensure balanced and sustainable economic growth in the GMS countries.
“As a long-time supporter for GMS cooperation, China will continue to be an active player in promoting environmental cooperation in the sub-regional to promote sustainable development,” he said during the 3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting.
The six countries in the GMS countries include China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
“The Chinese government attaches great importance to cooperating with other GMS countries and we deem good domestic environmental performance as the basis for better sub-regional cooperation,” he said.
Xu continued to say that China plans to provide portable water and air monitoring equipment to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam in order to help strengthen their officials’ management capacity on environmental protection affairs.
“Besides these, we will also organize policy and technical training programs on urban solid waste management for GMS countries,” he said. “We hope to do what we can to help improve regional environmental management capacity.”
Meanwhile, Xu said that Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, which are the main players in China participating in GMS cooperative activities, have witnessed overall stable environmental quality and improved environmental management capacity.
By 2010, in Yunnan province alone, there are 162 nature reserves, including 16 national reserves, covering a total area of 2.96 million hectares, he said.
In Guangxi autonomous region, there are also 78 nature reserves of different kinds with a total area of 1.45 million hectares.
The forest coverage of the two provinces reached 47.5 percent and 58 percent respectively.
The GMS countries have engaged in regional environmental cooperation since 2006 through the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI). This 30 million U.S. dollar program is expected to end in December 2011.
Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said Thursday that the the 3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting would endorse the action plan 2012-2016 of CEP-BCI for environment cooperation to ensure balanced and sustainable economic growth in the GMS countries.
3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting begins in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ministers of Environment of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries gathered here on Thursday to decide on the continued regional action plan 2012-2016 for environment cooperation to ensure balanced and sustainable economic growth in the GMS countries.
Speaking during opening the meeting, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the meeting was very important to revise progress and challenge in the GMS countries on environment issues.
He said the proper protection of environment and natural resources are a necessary condition to ensure the substantial development of national economy.
“The carelessness on environmental risks such as climate change will cause huge impact on water supply and use, telecommunication infrastructure, food security, energy, and bio-diversity to each country and the whole region,” he said.
“The meeting is also a good chance to find out mechanism to strengthen and expand friendship and cooperation among GMS countries in order to bring mutual benefits and prosperity to each country’s people.”
The GMS countries have engaged in regional environmental cooperation since 2006 through the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI). This 30 million U.S. dollar program is expected to end in December 2011.
Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said Thursday that the meeting would endorse the action plan 2012-2016 of CEP-BCI, in which the Asian Development Bank would support with the amount of fund up to 69 million U.S. dollars for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Speaking during opening the meeting, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the meeting was very important to revise progress and challenge in the GMS countries on environment issues.
He said the proper protection of environment and natural resources are a necessary condition to ensure the substantial development of national economy.
“The carelessness on environmental risks such as climate change will cause huge impact on water supply and use, telecommunication infrastructure, food security, energy, and bio-diversity to each country and the whole region,” he said.
“The meeting is also a good chance to find out mechanism to strengthen and expand friendship and cooperation among GMS countries in order to bring mutual benefits and prosperity to each country’s people.”
The GMS countries have engaged in regional environmental cooperation since 2006 through the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI). This 30 million U.S. dollar program is expected to end in December 2011.
Cambodian Minister of Environment Mok Mareth said Thursday that the meeting would endorse the action plan 2012-2016 of CEP-BCI, in which the Asian Development Bank would support with the amount of fund up to 69 million U.S. dollars for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Cambodia’s exports of rubber latex see sharp rise in first half
PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has seen 84 percent rise in the exports of rubber latex in the first half of this year, compared with the same period a year ago, according to the statistics from the Commerce Ministry’s Camcontrol Department, which is the government’s Import-Export Inspection Agent, on Wednesday.
The data recorded that from January to June this year, the country had exported a total 21,511 tons of rubber latex, 84 percent rise from 11,665 tons at the same period last year.
The country earned the total revenues of 102 million U.S. dollars during the first half of this year, 234 percent rise from 30.5 million U.S. dollars it earned within the same period last year, it added.
A ton of good quality rubber latex is about 4,475 U.S. dollars now, up from about 3,450 U.S. dollars at this time last year, Mok Kim Hong, the president of the Chub Rubber Plantation in Kampong Cham province, said Wednesday.
Cambodia’s rubber latex has been exported to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Currently, the country has grown approximately 181,450 hectares of rubber plantations, most of them are young crops, which have not yet yielded.
Rubber plantations are found grown mostly in the provinces of Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Kratie and Preah Vihear.
Vietnam is the leading country investing in rubber plantations in Cambodia with up to 100,000 hectares of concessional land from Cambodian government for this crop.
The data recorded that from January to June this year, the country had exported a total 21,511 tons of rubber latex, 84 percent rise from 11,665 tons at the same period last year.
The country earned the total revenues of 102 million U.S. dollars during the first half of this year, 234 percent rise from 30.5 million U.S. dollars it earned within the same period last year, it added.
A ton of good quality rubber latex is about 4,475 U.S. dollars now, up from about 3,450 U.S. dollars at this time last year, Mok Kim Hong, the president of the Chub Rubber Plantation in Kampong Cham province, said Wednesday.
Cambodia’s rubber latex has been exported to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Currently, the country has grown approximately 181,450 hectares of rubber plantations, most of them are young crops, which have not yet yielded.
Rubber plantations are found grown mostly in the provinces of Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Kratie and Preah Vihear.
Vietnam is the leading country investing in rubber plantations in Cambodia with up to 100,000 hectares of concessional land from Cambodian government for this crop.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Cambodia, DPRK sign deal to speed up implementation of economic, trade cooperation
PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday signed an agreement to boost the implementation of economic and trade cooperation.
The deal was inked between Ouch Borith, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ri Myong San, visiting DPRK’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade, after the first Cambodia-DPRK Joint Commission meeting on economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation.
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Ouch Borith said Cambodia and DPRK have signed seven cooperation agreements since 1993.
They include the agreement on economic, trade, cultural and technical cooperation, trade exchange deal, investment protection deal, Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Cambodia and DPRK foreign ministries, IT joint committee establishment agreement, cultural exchange cooperation, and water way transportation agreement.
“Even though all these agreements have been in place for nearly 20 years, the implementation of the agreements has not been materialized,” he said. “Therefore, the deal we signed today is to boost the implementation of these agreements for the interests of the two countries’ peoples.”
Ouch Borith said that Cambodia has also seen DPRK as a potential market for Cambodian rice, corn, cassava and bean; in exchange, Cambodia expects to import agricultural machinery from DPRK.
On the investment side, Cambodia wants to see DPRK investors in small hydroelectric dams, agriculture, industry and mineral resources, he added.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Cambodia’s cassava exports increase 87 pct in first half
PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has seen a sharp rise in cassava exports in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the statistics from the Commerce Ministry’s Camcontrol Department, which is the government’s Import-Export Inspection Agent, on Tuesday.
The data showed that from January to June this year, the country had exported 212,018 tons of fresh and dry chip cassava, represented 87 percent rise from 113,068 tons in the same period last year.
The country earned the total revenues of 8.7 million U.S. dollars during the six months of this year, up 200 percent from only 2.9 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year, showed the data.
Te Haing, president of Chak Puok Cambodia, which brokers cassava for factories in Thailand and Vietnam, said that a ton of dry chip of cassava costs around 210 U.S. dollars and the fresh one costs around 85 U.S. dollars.
According to the report from the ministry of agriculture, the country grew 194,000 hectares of cassava crop and yielded 3.78 million tons in 2010-2011 harvest season.
Cambodia’s oil demand up 72 pct to 756,139 tons in last six months
PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had imported 756,139 tons of petroleum in the first half of this year, 72 pct rise from 440,607 tons in the same period a year ago, showed the data from the Commerce Ministry’s Camcontrol Department on Tuesday.
About 692 million U.S. dollars had been used to purchase the petroleum during the first six months of this year, up 133 percent from 297 million U.S. dollars at the same time last year, it recorded.
It’s estimated that Cambodia consumes more than one million tons of petroleum a year. The country has totally purchased it from Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly said on July 12 that the country would begin to produce its own oil from December 2012.
Currently, Cambodia’s Petrochemical Company, a joint-venture with China National Automation Control System Corporation, has been studying the feasibility to build an oil refinery with the annual capacity of 5 million tons per year in Preah Sihanouk province.
Cambodia to host 3rd GMS Environment Ministers’ meeting soon
PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ministers of Environment of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries will meet here on Thursday to decide on the program framework for continued regional environmental cooperation, according to a press release from the Asian Development Bank on Tuesday.
The GMS countries have engaged in regional environmental cooperation since 2006 through the Core Environment Program and Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI), said the statement, adding that this 30 million U.S. dollar program is expected to end in December 2011.
The Thursday’s meeting will be opened by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
During the meeting, senior government officials representing each of the countries will present progress on the first phase and the strategic framework for the follow-on phase to be implemented 2012-2016, it added.
“The GMS is one of the most economically robust subregions of the world with most countries posting impressive growth rates exceeding 5-10 per cent in the past two decades,” Kunio Senga, Director General of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, said in the press release. “Much of this growth has depended on harnessing the subregion’s valuable natural resources.”
“The challenge ahead is how to balance inclusive growth with the sustainable use of natural resources,” he added.
The GMS countries consist of China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
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