China-funded road inaugurated in Cambodia's northeastern provinces

MONDOLKIRI, Cambodia, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday inaugurated a 127-kilometer China-funded road here, aiming at developing eco-tourism in Cambodia's far northeastern provinces.
The inaugurated national road No. 76 stretches from Kratie province's Snuol district to Mondolkiri province's Sen Monorom city.
The inauguration was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and Pan Guangxue, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, and was also attended by top government officials, diplomatic corps, some 6,000 local people.
Speaking at the inauguration, Hun Sen said the construction of the road was begun in February 2007 by the China Road and Bridge Corporation as a cost of about 52 million U.S. dollars under the soft loan from the Chinese government.
"The road not only contributes to the development of Cambodia' s eco-tourism provinces, it also helps develop the triangle development area with Vietnam and Laos," he said.
"On behalf of the government of Cambodia and Cambodian people, I'd like to express sincere thanks to the government of China and its people for providing both grants and loans to Cambodia for social and economic development", said the premier.
"Today's achievements come from the close and sincere cooperation between Cambodia and China,"he said.
Pan Guangxue said that the road inauguration was a new symbol of good cooperation between China and Cambodia. "We believe that the road will help boost economic development and poverty reduction in Cambodia's eastern provinces,"he said. "China will still continue supporting Cambodia in infrastructure development projects."
The ambassador said that since 1992, the government of China has provided a total of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars in soft loans to Cambodia.
With the loans, more than 1,500 kilometers of roads in Cambodia have been constructed.
Meanwhile, the premier and the ambassador also broke ground for the construction of an extended national road No. 76 in the length of 172 kilometers from Sen Monorom city to Rattanakiri province under China's soft loan of 91.7 million U.S. dollars.
It will take 42 months to complete.
The hilly province of Mondolkiri is located some 386 kilometers northeast of Cambodia.

Cambodia's PM hails China for robust economic performance in past year

MONDOLKIRI, Cambodia, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday hailed China for its strong economic growth in 2011, saying China's progress has been considerably benefiting the developing countries.

"I'd like to congratulate China on its high economic growth of 9.2 percent in 2011, this is a high growth in Asia," he said during the inauguration of a China-funded national road No. 76 in Mondolkiri province, some 386 km Northeast of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

"It's a success for China, while the global economic growth is in the uncertain situation due to the crises in the United States and the Europe," he added.

Hun Sen added that China's progress has not only helped China itself, but it has also benefited the world, especially the developing countries, which need capitals for development.

The premier also highlighted close and good relations and cooperation between Cambodia and China, saying "Cambodia is very lucky that has a good friend like China."

Cambodia's ruling party wins majority in Senate race: preliminary results

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) gained a majority in the Senate elections on Sunday, receiving up to 77.81 percent (or 44.3 seats) out of the total 57 seats, according to the preliminary results of the National Election Committee (NEC).
Sam Rainsy Party, which is the country's main opposition party, gained the remaining 21.93 percent (or 12.5 seats), it said.
"In general, the elections had been conducted with security and good safety," Im Suosdey, the NEC's President, said during the announcement of the preliminary results on Sunday afternoon.
The official results will be announced on Feb. 4 if there is no complaint from any political parties, but it will be postponed to March 5 if there is complaint, according to the NEC.
The Sunday's Senate elections were observed by 131 representatives of political parties, 1,432 national and international observers and 200 local and foreign journalists, according to the NEC.
Only two main political parties participated in the elections. They are the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party.
It was voted by 119 Members of Parliament and 11,351 commune councilors at 33 polling stations across the country.
Cambodia's Senate has 61 seats, but the election was held for only 57 seats as two senators will be appointed by the King and the other two by the National Assembly.
The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in January 2006, at that time, three parties -- Cambodian People' s Party, royalist Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party -- joined the contest. As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, the Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy party two seats.

Cambodia to send 1st batch of medical personnel to South Sudan for humanitarian missions

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will send a group of more than 200 medical personnel and military police to South Sudan sometime in March in order to help the country in humanitarian activities, a senior Cambodian military official said Monday.
"This is the first time and a new mission for Cambodia that we will send medics for overseas humanitarian activities under the United Nations global peacekeeping framework," Lt. Gen. Sem Sovanny, director-general of the National Center for Peacekeeping Force, Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance at Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told reporters Monday after he presided over a ceremony to send medical equipment and supplies, light and heavy vehicles and water tanks to South Sudan for medical missions.
"As scheduled, the shipment of all these things will arrive in South Sudan's Juba within 45 days," he said, adding "soon after they arrive, we will dispatch more than 200 forces including 76 experienced military medics and military police."
"This will be a new pride for Cambodia," he said.
Cambodia has firstly sent its troops to Sudan in April 2006 under the UN umbrella and the demining mission in Sudan was ended in September last year.
Beside this, the country has also sent troops to Chad, Central African and Lebanon for humanitarian missions.
Sem Sovanny said so far, Cambodia has sent 1,074 troops to these countries including 594 in Sudan. 

Japan's firm launches onshore oil, gas exploration in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's state-affiliated Japanese Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) on Tuesday started the seismic acquisition operation for oil and gas exploration in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, said a government official.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the JOGMEC would drill 6,000 holes, each has a 6-milimeter diameter and up to a depth of 20 meters for the four-month seismic survey in the province.
Preah Vihear province, situated some 500 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, is home to more than 200 ancient temples including Preah Vihear temple, one of the world heritage sites.
Ho Vichit, vice-chairman of Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, said the seismic acquisition operation is one of the first steps of oil and gas exploration study and the operation will not have any impact on the environment and natural cultural sites.
"The start of the seismic survey in block 17 reflects foreign trust on Cambodia's investment environment and it is a new success for Cambodia towards the development of oil and gas sector," he said in a speech during the launching of the seismic study in the province's Tbeng Meanchey district on Tuesday.
JOGMEC and Cambodian National Petroleum Authority signed the Basic Agreement for the Study and Survey Program in Block 17 onshore Cambodia in May 2010.
The Block 17 onshore oil field covers a total area of 6,500 square kilometers of hilly forest in Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear and Siem Reap provinces, said Phay Siphan.
Last month, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced that drilling of the first well started in the Block F offshore in Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province.
The impoverished Southeast Asian nation hopes that the first drop of its own-produced oil will be available by December, 2012 as 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 an annual capacity of 5 million tons in Preah Sihanouk province.

Cambodian-U.S. micro-lenders cooperate to improve agriculture finance

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States government is partnering with a Cambodian microfinance institution, the Thaneakea Phum, to facilitate 2.71 million U.S. dollars in loans over the next four years to underserved Cambodian farmers and micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises, according to a U.S. Embassy's press released on Friday.
The lending will focus on those farmers in the provinces of Battambang, Kampong Thom, Pursat, and Siem Reap, it said.
"The American people are proud to encourage private-sector lending in Cambodia to support rural agriculture. This is vital to fostering economic development and strengthening rural livelihoods in the country," said Jeff Daigle, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh.
This new collaboration will help the Thaneakea Phum issue loans that are larger in size and with longer repayment schedules.
"Strengthening the ability of domestic microfinance institutions to lend to underserved populations will enable farmers and owners of smaller agricultural enterprises to improve their lives, reduce poverty, and spur rural regional growth," said the press release.
Michael Spingler, Chairman of the Board of Thaneakea Phum, said that the Thaneakea Phum focused its loans on agriculture because the institution believes that the future of Cambodia's economy lies in agriculture and agro-related products and services.

Cambodia's political parties conclude 21-day campaign for Senate vote

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's political parties had ended electoral campaigns for the third legislature of the Senate on Friday, two days prior to the vote.
Mao Sophearith, member of the National Election Committee (NEC), said Friday that during the 21-day campaign, the parties had promoted their political stances through marching and broadcasting on the National Television of Cambodia.
"In general, the campaign had been done smoothly with good environment and security," he said in a press briefing to conclude the campaign. "There was no any violence happened during the period."
Only two main political parties will participate in this Sunday ' s election. They are the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party, a main opposition party in the country.
According to the NEC, the Senate has 61 seats, but the election is held for only 57 seats as two senators will be appointed by the King and the other two by the National Assembly.
Each of the two parties has named 57 full candidates and 57 reserve ones to the NEC to compete in the election.
The Senate election on Sunday will be voted by 119 Members of Parliament and 11,351 commune councilors at 33 polling stations across the country.
The results will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in January 2006, at that time, three parties -- Cambodian People' s Party, Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party -- joined the contest. As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, the Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy party two seats.

Cambodia sends nearly 5,000 laborers to South Korea in 2011

   PHNOM PENH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had dispatched 4,957 migrant workers to South Korea in 2011, an increase of 134 percent from 2,116 laborers it sent in a year earlier, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training on Saturday.

   Since 2007 to date, a total of 11,715 Cambodian migrant workers have been offered jobs in South Korea with an average salary of between 800 and 1,000 U.S. dollars a month.

   The report showed that the Cambodian laborers are working in four specific fields in South Korea: manufacture, agriculture, construction and fishing.

   Besides South Korea, Cambodia has sent laborders to Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.

   Thailand is the largest market for Cambodian laborers with more than 80,000 working legally and the second one is Malaysia with more than 20,000 Cambodian migrant workers.

South Korea eyes investment in Cambodia's oil, gas sector

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea is willing to invest in oil and gas industry in Cambodia, said a senior Korean official on Thursday.
"Korea is interested in investing in oil and gas and energy sector in Cambodia," Jae Hyun Shin, South Korea's visiting ambassador in charge of energy and mineral resources cooperation, said during a meeting with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.
He also asked the premier to support the plan.
Meanwhile, Hun Sen welcomed the plan and advised the South Korea to work with Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA) for oil and gas cooperation.
Cambodia's offshore areas are believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits. To date, the country awarded exploring licenses to a number of companies to operate in six blocks, according to the CNPA report.
During the meeting, Shin also asked the premier to give support to South Korean mining companies to do exploitation when they have finished their exploration process.
Cambodia and South Korea signed the energy and mining cooperation agreement in October, 2009.
Currently, some 13 South Korean firms, including two of them partnered with Cambodian firms, have been exploring mineral resources in Cambodia, mainly in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Takeo and Kampong Speu, according to the report of the Extractive Industry Social and Environment Impact (EISEI) Network NGO released late last month.
Cambodia is believed to be rich in metallic mineral, gold ore, bauxites, titanium, copper, and offshore oil and gas.
The EISEI said that so far, the government of Cambodia has granted mining concessional licenses to approximately 128 local and foreign entities to conduct mineral exploration in the country.

Cambodia sees trade deficit of 1.73 bln USD in 2011

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded a trade deficit equivalent to 1.73 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, according to the statistics of the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday.
It showed that the country's total import and export value was 11.47 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 39 percent from 8.26 billion U.S. dollars in a year earlier.
The imports last year jumped by 38 percent to 6.6 billion U.S. dollars, and the exports increased by 39.5 percent to 4.87 billion U.S. dollars, leading the trade deficit of 1.73 billion U.S. dollars, it added.
Cambodia is heavily dependent on international trade and its economy relies on garment industry, tourism, agriculture and construction.
According to the statistics, the main products Cambodia exported last year included garment and textile in equivalent to 4. 24 billion U.S. dollars, representing up to 87 percent of the country's total exports.
The exports of rubber latex reached 201 million U.S. dollars, up 131 percent; milled rice hit 104 million U.S. dollars, up 197 percent; and the rest amount was the exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products.
In terms of imports, the country shipped in products including garment and textile raw materials of 2.6 billion U.S. dollars, up 20 percent; petroleum of 1.38 billion U.S. dollars, up 108 percent; construction materials of 560 million U.S. dollars, up 127 percent; automobiles and motorcycles of 365 million U.S. dollars, up 45 percent; food and soft drinks of 162 million U.S. dollars, up 21 percent.
In addition, the imports of pharmaceutical products and cosmetics were 141 million U.S. dollars, down 1.5 percent. 

Cambodian per capita GDP likely to reach 1,000 USD in 2013: PM

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that the country's per capita GDP is expected to reach 1,000 U.S. dollars in 2013 from merely 830 U.S. dollars at the end of 2010.
In the medium term, the country's economic growth is expected to be at least 6 percent annually and the poverty rate will decline at least one percent a year, he said in a meeting with 26 Cambodian ambassadors and eight consuls general to foreign countries.
By the end of 2010, Cambodia's poverty rate stood at 25.8 percent, according to the government statistics.
The country's GDP growth in 2011 was estimated at 6.4 percent ( equivalent to 12.02 billion U.S. dollars), Cambodia's Finance Minister Keat Chhon said last month.
The main sectors driving economic growth are garment industry, tourism, agriculture and construction.

Cambodia unveils key foreign tasks in 2012

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs, said Monday the country's foreign policies face three main challenges this year.
The issues are the International Court of Justice's interpretation for its judgment in 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear and surrounding area, the vote at United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for Cambodia's candidacy as the non-permanent member in 2013-2014, and the country's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The minister unveiled the tasks at a meeting with 26 Cambodian ambassadors and eight consuls general to foreign countries, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the ministry, told reporters after the meeting.
"The Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong had advised them to carry out these foreign policies well this year," he said.
Meanwhile, Hor Namhong also instructed those ambassadors and consuls general to keep their eyes on up-to-date situation in their respectively designated countries and to work to attract foreign investors and tourists to Cambodia.

Lion dances performed in Cambodia to celebrate Chinese New Year

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese traditional lion and dragon dances have begun performances in Cambodia on Sunday to celebrate coming Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 23.
The dances started from the Royal Palace, then to the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh before going elsewhere across the country.
The six groups of lion and dragon dances from the Chinese community in Cambodia had performed at the Royal Palace to bless Cambodia with happiness and prosperity in the New Year, Lao Shi Heng, vice-president of Chinese Association in Cambodia, said.
The groups were welcomed by Kuy Sophal, senior minister in charge of public affairs at the Royal Palace.
Later, at the Chinese Embassy, the groups were greeted by the ambassador Pan Guangxue.
"The Lunar New Year is the most important festival in China," he said, adding that it marked the end of the winter and the start of the spring.
The ambassador has also hailed overseas Chinese for promoting Chinese custom and tradition in Cambodia.
"May the Year of the Dragon bring luck, fortune and prosperity to China and the world," he said.
Traditionally, lion dance is invited by Chinese families to perform as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Spring Festival and to ward off bad luck and evil spirits.
Chinese New Year is one of the largest festivals in Cambodia, up to 80 percent of Cambodian people celebrate it every year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a public speech in last January.
According to the figures from the Chinese Association in Cambodia, there are some 700,000 Chinese descendants living in Cambodia.

Cambodia’s PM sends greetings on Chinese New Year

   PHNOM PENH, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen sent his greetings to the people of China on the occasion of Lunar New Year, according to his message released to the media on Saturday.

   In the message dated Jan. 14 to all beloved people of China, the premier said, “Cambodia is a warm house for all brotherly people, including Cambodians with Chinese descent.”

   He added, “During the time of miserable difficulty and complete separation of families in the regime of 3 years, 8 months and 20 days, we had been in the same difficult lives, losing the beloved lives of fathers, mothers, spouses, and children.”

   “When the day of Jan. 7, 1979 came, we were all resurrected in warmth together, joining happiness, misery, difficulty and development together until now, it was 32 years ago,” he said.

   The premier continued to say that 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon that occurs just once every 60 years. “The Year of the Dragon with water element is more powerful than other years and will bring immense luck, wealth, and happiness to all brotherly people.”

   “My wife and I would like to join the pleasures with all brotherly Chinese people and bless all of you with prosperity, fortune, and longevity,” Hun Sen wrote in the letter.

   Chinese New Year is one of the largest festivals in Cambodia, up to 80 percent of Cambodian people celebrate it every year, Hun Sen said in a public speech in last January.

   He said that Cambodia celebrates three times of New Year in a year: Universal New Year, Chinese New Year and Khmer New Year itself. 

Chinese artists conclude performances in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Tianjin Symphony Orchestra concluded performances here on Wednesday evening at Diamond Island's Grand Theatre, attracting about 2,000 spectators, mostly Cambodians of Chinese descent.

Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue said that Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1985, came to perform in Cambodia for the first time to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year and to promote cultural ties between the two countries.

Duong Chhiv, the president of Chinese Community in Cambodia, said the orchestra's performances reflected the attention of the Chinese government and people to those overseas Chinese.

During the two-hour performances, Chinese artists treated the audience with a number of well-known pieces, including Jasmine and the Blue Danube Waltz, as well as songs composed by former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, drawing hearty applause.

On Tuesday evening, the orchestra staged show at the capital's Chak Tomuk Hall and drew an audience of about 500, including Cambodia's President of National Assembly Heng Samrin, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister Nhik Bunchhay, and Minister of Culture Him Chhem.

Cambodia, Thailand to resume border talks next month

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Officials of the Cambodian-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation of Land Boundary will meet in Thailand on Feb. 13-14 to discuss border demarcation, Cambodian Foreign Ministry said in a press release Wednesday.
Var Kimhong, Cambodia's senior minister in charge of border affairs, and Long Visalo, secretary of state at the ministry of foreign affairs, will lead Cambodian officials for the upcoming meeting to be held at Thailand's request.
"The meeting will discuss boundary measurement and search for remaining 25 border poles outside the area of Preah Vihear temple because, at the area of Preah Vihear temple, both sides have to wait until the International Court of Justice interprets the judgment of 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear temple," it said.
Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. The two countries were locked in fierce border fighting in February and April during the Thai's Democrat-led administration.
Tension has eased since former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3.

Cambodia prepares for Chinese Spring Festival celebration

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- As the Chinese New Year is getting close, Chinese blood Cambodians have been busy decorating their houses with plum blossoms, red color paper-cuts and Chinese couplets hung on doors and walls, hoping to receive a good fortune and happiness in the upcoming year.
Shops selling decoration materials and praying stuff are bustling.
"A lot of customers come and purchase Chinese New Year decorations from my shop," said Hak Senghong, the owner of a shop near Phnom Penh's Orussei Market.
"For usual days, sales are not high, but ahead of the Chinese New Year, sales are very high and we almost have no time to have meals," he said.
Hak said all the decoration materials in his shop have been directly purchased from China.
In Cambodia, plum blossoms are also popularly used to decorate houses during the Chinese New Year. These flowers are symbolic of trustworthiness, determination, bond in a relationship.
Chan Srey Vy, a seller of plum blossom saplings in Phnom Penh, said year on year, more Chinese blood Cambodians come and buy the trees.
"Every year, I sell out between 100 to 200 plum blossom trees. A tree sells between 70 U.S. dollars to 100 U.S. dollars," she said.
One of the customers Kim Ly believed that the well decoration of house during the Spring Festival would bring good luck and fortune throughout the upcoming year.
"Every year, I decorate my house with red color paper-cuts, couplets and Chinese plum blossom saplings," he said.
"It (plum blossom sapling) is expensive, but according to Chinese belief, the flower can predict business future -- if the tree blooms on the first day of the Chinese New Year, it's believed that one's business throughout the year will make good earnings," he said, adding "the more the tree gives flowers, the more the earnings from business."
As for the security during the occasion, the Phnom Penh Municipality issued a directive on Tuesday, ordering all levels of authorities to strengthen security and public order during the celebration of the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Under the directive signed by the governor of Phnom Penh Municipality Kep Chuk Tema, fire-crackers, fireworks, and all types of explosives will be banned during celebrations of the Chinese New Year from Jan. 22 to 25 to ensure safety, security and public order. Also banned is gambling.
The Chinese New Year is one of the most important festivals in Cambodia, up to 80 percent of Cambodian people celebrate it every year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a public speech in last January.
Cambodia celebrates three new year festivals in a year -- the Universal New Year, the Chinese New Year and the Khmer New Year, the prime minister said.

Investment in Cambodia's construction grow 102 pct in 2011

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's construction sector recovered with a total investment of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, an increase of 102 percent from a year earlier, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction on Wednesday.

Last year, the ministry granted licenses to 2,129 construction projects nationwide, slightly down from 2,149 projects in 2010.

Lao Tip Seiha, director of the ministry's construction department, attributed the sharp growth in the construction investment to better economic environment, political stability and good security.

Foreign investors in Cambodia's real estate are mostly from Malaysia, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Japan, he said.

Former Cambodian King leaves for routine medical checkup in Beijing

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, accompanied by his wife Norodom Monineath and son King Norodom Sihamoni, left here on Thursday for Beijing for routine medical checkup.
The royal family was seen off by at the airport by Senate President Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue, as well as Cambodian government officials and members of the royal family.
Norodom Sihanouk, 90, has suffered from a number of diseases including cancers, diabetes and hypertension.
Prince Sisowath Thomico, adviser to King Norodom Sihamoni and nephew of King Father Norodom Sihanouk, said Thursday that the King Father's health was good and the visit to Beijing was to receive "routine medical checkup" by Chinese doctors.
"The former King is healthy," he told Xinhua. "Almost every day, he meets and donates royal gifts to his poor subjects at the Royal Palace."
Thomico said he did not know how long the Sihanouks would stay in Beijing.
The former king and queen returned home on Oct. 27, 2011, to celebrate the seventh anniversary of king Norodom Sihamoni's coronation and observe Sihanouk's 90th birthday. The Cambodian government organized nationwide celebrations on Oct. 30 and 31 to honor former king's birthday and the 20th anniversary of his return home from exile.
Under the constitutional law, when the king is absent, Cambodian President of the Senate Chea Sim will assume the title of the acting Head of State.

U.S. launches 4-year anti-human trafficking program in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Thursday launched here a four-year counter human trafficking program to support and coordinate Cambodia's efforts to combat all forms of human trafficking, according to a U.S. Embassy's press release.
The 5.4-million-U.S.- dollar second phase program (2012-2015) will continue efforts in the coordination, prevention, protection, and prosecution, with an expanded focus on addressing labor trafficking and exploitation, it said. The Winrock International NGO will be the program's implementer.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, also minister of interior, said that the fight against human trafficking was still one of the top priorities for Cambodia.
"The government of Cambodia, since the past to the present, had a high commitment to fight against human trafficking in order to protect human dignity and human rights," he said. "The U.S.'s help in the field is important to end all forms of human trafficking in Cambodia."
Jeff Daigle, Charg d 'Affairs of the U.S. Embassy to Cambodia, hailed Cambodia's efforts and the progress it has made in fighting human trafficking and protecting its citizens.
"With the participation from all levels of authorities and civil society organizations, Cambodia will be able to eradicate human trafficking and the stigma and suffering that goes along with it," he said.
Poverty and lack of employment are the main causes that lead to trafficking in persons.
Jeff Daigle said that human trafficking takes on many forms. Victims are forced to work at homes, factories, on fishing boats, or in the fields by employers who keep them virtually imprisoned.
He added that some are forced into sexual service, and others into begging on the streets.

Cambodian court sentences Filipino woman to 15 years in jail for drug trafficking

   PHNOM PENH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday convicted a Filipino woman of cross-border drug trafficking and sentenced her to 15 years in jail and fined 30 million riel (7,500 U.S. dollars), according to a verdict read by presiding judge Sin Visal.

   Cadalso Vilma Cristales, 42, was arrested last May at the Phnom Penh International Airport while she arrived in Cambodia with 72 grams of Cocaine.

   The Thursday’s verdict said that the punishment was made based on the new article 32.2 of the amended law on drug control.  

   According to Cambodia’s law, the convict has one month to appeal against the verdict.

Cambodia tightens fireworks control ahead of Chinese New Year

PHNOM PENH, Jan 17, 2012 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Phnom Penh Municipality on Tuesday issued a directive ordering authorities at all levels to strengthen security and public safety during the celebration of the upcoming Chinese-Vietnamese New Year.


Under the directive signed by governor of Phnom Penh Municipality Kep Chuk Tema, fire-crackers, fireworks, and all types of explosives will be banned during celebrations of Chinese- Vietnamese New Year from Jan. 22-25 to ensure safety, security and public order.

Also banned is gambling.

He said all fire-crackers, fireworks, and explosives brought into Phnom Penh during these days will be seized.

"Whoever violates this directive will be punished according to the laws," he said.

Chinese New Year is widely celebrated in Cambodia. The country has some 700,000 people of Chinese descendants, figures from the Chinese Association in Cambodia showed.

Cambodian-Thai talks on troop pullout make headway

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Defense Minister Tea Banh said Tuesday Cambodia and Thailand have already set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to work towards troop withdrawal from the demilitarized zone on the disputed border near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
"We just wait for the invitation from Thailand to convene a meeting in Thailand sometime this year in order to discuss the plan for troop redeployment from the Provisional Demilitarized Zone (PDZ)," Tea Banh told reporters.
He said that the JWG comprised of about 20 border affairs and military experts, and Cambodian side is headed by Neang Phat, secretary of state of the Defense Ministry.
The agreement to establish the JWG was reached here on Dec. 21, 2011 after the 8th meeting of General Border Committee (GBC), which was co-chaired by Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart Yuthasak Sasiprapha.
The JWG will work for the complete and simultaneous pullout of the two countries' military personnel from their current positions in the PDZ under observation of the Joint Observer Team made up of Cambodian, Thai and Indonesian monitors.
The talks on troop pullout from the PDZ was opened after the International Court of Justice ordered Cambodia and Thailand on July 18, 2011 to immediately withdraw their military personnel from the PDZ and allow ASEAN observers access to the PDZ to monitor ceasefire.
"The issue of Cambodian-Thai border conflict, particularly near Preah Vihear temple, is not an urgent agenda for the upcoming 6th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in May, except in emergency circumstance," Tea Banh said.
Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008 and witnessed fierce clashes in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.
However, the border tension has eased since the opposition Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3, 2011.

Cambodia sticks to DOC on S China Sea dispute

PHNOM PENH - As the chairman of ASEAN this year, Cambodia vowed to safeguard the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the guidelines of implementing the DOC, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Tea Banh said on Tuesday.
"We are all aware of the DOC that was signed in Phnom Penh between ASEAN and China at that time Cambodia was ASEAN chairman in 2002," he said in a forum on Cambodia's roles in promoting security cooperation in the name of the host of ASEAN Defense Ministers' meeting and other meetings in 2012.
"Now, it is the 10-year anniversary of the DOC," he told about 100 participants who are foreign diplomats and military attach of ASEAN countries and dialogue partner countries.
"We must safeguard the DOC achieved in Phnom Penh and achievement made in Indonesia in July, 2011 that created guidelines and implementation principles for the DOC," he said.
The minister said that Cambodia would urge for cooperation from all ASEAN members and China in order to achieve the draft Code of Conduct (COC) in 2012 in the spirit of cooperation and friendship.
"As ASEAN chair, Cambodia has a clear principle: minimize dispute and increase cooperation towards establishment of ASEAN Political-Security Community by 2015," he said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Chinese artists give concert in Cambodia to mark Spring Festival

PHNOM PENH, Jan 17, 2012 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- China's Tianjin Symphony Orchestra gave a free concert here Tuesday evening to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year and enhance Sino-Cambodian cultural exchanges.
The concert, held at the capital's Chak Tomuk Hall, drew an audience of about 500, including local and international fans.
Cambodia's President of National Assembly Heng Samrin, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Minister of the Council of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Nhik Bunchhay, and Minister of Culture Him Chhem as well as Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue attended the concert.
Opening the performance, Pan Guangxue noted that Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1985, is one of the largest symphony orchestras in China.
"This is the first time the orchestra comes to perform in Cambodia to celebrate Chinese New Year and to promote closer cultural ties between our two countries," he said.
During the one-hour performance, Chinese artists treated the audience with a number of well-known pieces, including Jasmine, The Blue Danube Waltz, The Sun Comes out and Girls of Ali Mountain.
Moreover, the orchestra had performed songs composed by former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk including Phnom Penh, Monica, Miss China and China, My second homeland.
The performances drew hearty rounds of applause.

Cuba eyes cooperation with Cambodia in agriculture, health

PHNOM PENH, January 16 (Xinhua) -- Cuba wants to cooperate with Cambodia in the fields of agriculture and health in order to strengthen and expand bilateral ties, said the new designated Cuban ambassador to Cambodia Jose Ramon R. Yarona on Monday.
Jose Ramon R. Yarona made the comments during a meeting with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace.
He said Cuba and Cambodia have the possibility of launching cooperation in agriculture, pesticides and health, especially medicines for cancer prevention.
Meanwhile, he also invited the premier to visit Cuba at an appropriate time.
In response, Hun Sen accepted the invitation and said that he would make a visit to Cuba sometime in the future.
He recommended Jose Ramon R. Yarona to work with Cambodia's ministries of agriculture and health to seek cooperation in the proposed fields.
Cambodia and Cuba have established diplomatic relations for 50 years, but bilateral trade and investment are relatively small.

Malaria kills 98 Cambodians, down 35 percent in 2011

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Malaria had killed 98 Cambodians in 2011, a decline of 35 percent from 151 deaths in a year earlier, said a senior health official on Monday.
Last year, some 62,690 cases of malaria had been reported, said Char Meng Chuor, the director of the National Center for Malaria.
"We see our remarkable success in fighting malaria in the past year--despite the rise in malaria cases, the death toll has declined up to 35 percent," he told Xinhua over telephone. "This is thanks to people's awareness about the symptoms of the disease and they have timely sought medical treatment."
He said that with this good result, the country would definitely be able to completely eradicate the death of malaria by 2015.
"To achieve this target, we need the budget of 20 million U.S. dollars a year in the next four years," he said.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. In Cambodia, the disease is often found in rainy season and mostly happens in border provinces, forest and mountainous provinces such as Pursat, Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kampong Cham, and Preah Vihear.

U.S. secretary of state, president to visit Cambodia this year: officials

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Barack Obama will visit Cambodia in July and November respectively to attend summits as Cambodia chairs ASEAN this year, senior officials said on Monday.
"Our Secretary of State will be here in July as well as our President will be in November," Joseph Y. Yun, deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U. S. Department of State, told reporters after a meeting with Ouch Borith, secretary of state for Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said that the meeting is to inform Cambodia about the upcoming U.S. leaders' visits and to discuss how to build U.S.- Cambodia relationship in 2012 through these high-level visits.
"We have really had a very exciting year ahead to strengthen U. S.-Cambodia relationship," he said.
Ouch Borith said Hillary Clinton will attend the AMM (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting) and Barack Obama will attend the ASEAN-U.S. Summit and related Summits.
"This reflects increasing relationship between the United States and ASEAN," he told reporters."The presence of the U.S. President Barack Obama in Cambodia in November is a sign showing that the Cambodia-U.S. relation is better."
It will be the first time in Cambodia's history that the incumbent President of the United States visiting Cambodia.
In the meeting, both sides also discussed about the plan for Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong's visit to Washington D.C. in March this year to strengthen Cambodia-U.S. cooperation.