Lending at Cambodia's banks increases 17 pct in 9 months

English.news.cn   2013-11-21 18:12:55

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's banking sector has seen 17 percent rise in lending in the first nine months of the year, the central bank's figures showed Thursday.
The kingdom's 34 commercial banks had provided a total loan of 6.89 billion U.S. dollars to customers by the end of September this year, up 17 percent from 5.88 billion U.S. dollars at the end of last year, the figures said.
Loans are mainly allocated to trade, agriculture, industries, construction, hotels and restaurants, mortgages and real estate.
On the deposit side, by September this year, the banks had received a total deposit of 6.62 billion U.S. dollars, up 7 percent from 6.16 billion U.S. dollars at the end of last year.
Chea Chanto, governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, has recently said that the banking sector has been developing soundly, in terms of scope, operational scale and products.
He attributed the growth to the increasing supports and participation of foreign investors and customers in the sector.
The Southeast Asian nation has the population of about 14.7 million with its banking sector serving about 1.6 million borrowers and 1.9 million depositors.

Editor: Luan

Cambodia offers troops to Mali under UN peacekeeping mission: PM

English.news.cn   2013-11-21 16:10:28

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will send troops to the conflict-torn West African nation of Mali for the first time under the United Nations peacekeeping mission, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday. "Soon, we will send our peacekeepers to Mali to join the UN peacekeeping operation,"the premier said, adding that currently, the country's soldiers are present in South Sudan and Lebanon.
Lieutenant General Sem Sovanny, general director of the National Center for Peacekeeping Force, said some 298 Cambodian troops will be sent to Mali sometime in December because they are required to start their duties over there in January.
The peacekeepers will work in mine clearance and civil engineering, he said.
Mali was plunged into turmoil after a March 2012 coup that led to an Islamic rebel takeover of large swathes of the West African country and France launched a military operation in January to oust them.
Since 2006, Cambodia had more than 1,600 peacekeepers deployed in UN operations in Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Central Africa and Lebanon. So far, all of them had ended their missions and returned home, except some 152 peacekeepers in South Sudan and 218 troops in Lebanon.
Related:
Rwanda to send 140 peacekeepers to Mali
KIGALI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda will deploy 140 police officers to reinforce the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, an official statement said Thursday.
The maiden contingent, including 17 female police officers, will serve for one year in the West African nation. Full story

Editor: chengyang

Cambodia hosts int'l vaccine, immunization meeting

English.news.cn   2013-11-21 14:54:11

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) Board meeting was held here on Thursday to decide which new vaccines will be added to the organization's portfolio.
The two-day meeting brought together 160 people who are representatives of donors and developing countries, civil society organizations, vaccine manufacturers, and other experts. Princess Infanta Cristina of Spain is among the other participants.
The meeting was the first major GAVI Alliance event held in South Asia, said a press release, adding that since 2007, Asian countries including Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have introduced the five-in-one pentavalent and measles vaccines with GAVI support, protecting more than 25 million children against potentially fatal illnesses.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen stressed the importance of the meeting and expressed gratitude to the GAVI Alliance for financially and spiritually supporting Cambodia in its efforts to vaccinate children against diseases.
"The meeting is a driving force to expedite the process of the inclusion of new vaccines in the organization's portfolio and to expand vaccinations to children," he said.
With GAVI support, Cambodia has introduced the five-in-one pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B, as well as measles vaccine.
The premier said Cambodia had completely eliminated polio since 1997 and measles since 2011.
Meanwhile, he urged the GAVI Alliance to add Pneumococcal Vaccine for Cambodia by 2015 and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine in the future.
GAVI Board Chair Dagfinn Hoybraten hailed Cambodia for its strong commitment to improving well-being for children, estimating that diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine coverage in Cambodia has reached 95 percent.
"This is an extraordinary achievement and demonstrates the commitment of our Cambodian partners," he said.
Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bunheng said GAVI has partnered with Cambodia's immunization program since 2001. To date, GAVI has provided Cambodia 39 million U.S. dollars worth of vaccines.
"During the period of GAVI support, the five-in-one pentavalent vaccine coverage has increased from 70 percent in 2001 to 95 percent in 2013," he said.
The GAVI Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing access to immunization in developing countries. Since 2000, GAVI has contributed to the immunization of an additional 440 million children and the prevention of approximately 6 million future deaths.

Editor: Yang Yi

News Analysis: Despite Cambodian, Thai leaders' commitment to ICJ's verdict, fears of violence remain high: analysts

English.news.cn   2013-11-10 14:29:04

by Wang Qibing, Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Monday's ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case regarding the disputed land near Preah Vihear temple between Cambodia and Thailand will be the best choice for the two neighbors to end their bitter border dispute, Cambodian analysts said here Sunday.
However, fears of violence remain high as Thai nationalist and opposition groups may use this opportunity to stir up nationalism and anti-government, they noted.
"Both Cambodian and Thai peoples, governments, and militaries have to respect and observe the court's decision and regard it as a win-win for both peoples and countries," Chheang Vannarith, a senior researcher at the Cambodian Institute for Peace and Cooperation, told Xinhua.
"They should end such border dispute and move together to build and nurture peace, stability and development along the border areas," he said.
The Hague-based ICJ will on Monday hand down its verdict in the simmering border spat between the two countries over a 4.6 square- km disputed land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple after Cambodia filed a complaint in April 2011.
Major General Thul Sovan, deputy commander of Preah Vihear temple frontline region, said on Sunday that the situation at the border near the temple remained calm and tourists still visited the temple as normal.
"However, villagers in nearby villages have dug trenches and bunkers already for any unexpected situation," he told Xinhua over telephone.
He said the troops have received an order from Prime Minister Hun Sen to "exercise utmost restraint" to avoid any renewal of clashes with the Thai side.
Hun Sen said Thursday that he and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have agreed that whatever the ICJ's verdict is, the two Southeast Asian nations have to comply with this decision and try to maintain peace and stability along the border at any cost.
"The verdict will enable the two sides to end the issue peacefully in the spirit of the mutual respect for international law, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and maintain good neighboring relationships," the premier said in a special video recording, which was broadcast on all local TV channels.
He urged troops along the border and the Cambodian people to stay calm, pending the court's decision.
"I'd like to appeal to all types of armed forces who are on duties to defend the border to keep calm, exercise utmost restraint, and avoid any activities that could lead to tension or clashes," he said.
Even though the leaders of the two countries have agreed to abide by the ICJ ruling, fears remain high that nationalist and opposition groups may stir up violence in border villages.
"Domestic political polarization in Thailand may push the tensions and security risks to the disputed areas near the Preah Vihear temple," Chheang Vannarith said."The most complicated issue is the Thai domestic politics--the nationalist and opposition groups may use this opportunity to stir nationalism and anti- government sentiment."
"Regardless of whether the court's decision in favor of Cambodia or Thailand, they will protest against the incumbent Thai government and demand for more assertive actions including the use of military forces against Cambodia," said Vannarith, who is also a lecturer of Asia Pacific Studies at the University of Leeds in Britain.
Political analyst Kem Ley said Monday's ruling is likely to pose a major challenge for the Thai government because it coincides with a controversial political amnesty bill, which has already triggered mass street demonstrations in Bangkok.
"If the verdict is not in favor of Thailand, Thai nationalist and opposition groups may intensify their protests to influence the Army," he said Sunday. "The Army, to serve their people, may take any military actions against Cambodia so that, want or not want, it may trigger clashes."
Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple, is located on the top of a 525- meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, about 500 km northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
The ICJ awarded Cambodia the temple and its vicinity on June 15, 1962, but Thailand claimed the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple in 2008 when the UNESCO inscribed the temple on the World Heritage List. The temple had become a flashpoint of armed clashes between the two countries' troops since then.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said in June 2011 that the sporadic clashes left 24 Cambodian civilians and soldiers dead, forced tens of thousands of people to flee homes, and caused serious damage to the temple.
Tensions between the two nations have calmed since July 2011 when Yingluck, the sister of exiled ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, became prime minister of Thailand.
Thaksin and Hun Sen are close friends.

Feature: Chinese movies draw crowds of Cambodian audience during China Arts Week

English.news.cn   2013-11-05 06:21:57

by Wang Qibing, Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Throngs of Cambodian teenagers flocked on Monday to watch Chinese movies screened at the capital' s Lux Cinema to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Cambodia-China diplomatic ties.
The movies are part of the China Today Arts Week, which will run through Friday.
"It drew crowds of students from various universities on the first day," Sok Sophal, deputy chief of the cinema department at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, which co-organized the event, told Xinhua.
"We arranged around 800 seats for spectators, but up to 1,200 people had attended the event."
He said six renowned Chinese movies -- The Smile of Angkor, The Piano in A Factory, Mother, Love on Gallery Bridge, Thangs Ka, and Love Is Not Blind -- have been showing at the cinema.
The Smile of Angkor featured the marvel of the ancient Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia's World Heritage Site, and the natural landscapes in and around the temple, he said.
"All the films had been dubbed into the Khmer language, so Cambodian people can freely enjoy them," he said.
Sok Sophal said the six Chinese romantic movies depicted morals, cultures, and daily life in China.
"I believe that these films will be a model for Cambodian youth to follow in their daily lives after they have watched them," he said.
Sar Socheata, a student at the University of Fine Arts, said, " After watching this film, I feel that culture and environment are beautiful, and it stimulates me to love and want to conserve ancient temples and nature."
"Chinese stars have performed very well in these movies," said Touch Kakada, also a student at the University of Fine Arts. " Through these movies, Cambodians will be able to learn more about the richness of Chinese culture and traditions and the daily life of the Chinese people."
Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeung Sakuna, who was among the viewers, said the event was part of the effort to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between Cambodia and China on culture.
"The show of the movies is not only an opportunity for Cambodian people to learn more about Chinese traditions and daily lives, but also a chance for Cambodian and Chinese cultural officials to exchange experience and bridge closer relations."
"The China Today Arts Week is a milestone in promoting the cultural relations between Cambodia and China," she said.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo said it was the first time that the China Today Arts Week came to Cambodia.
"The event is to mark the 55th anniversary of the China- Cambodia diplomatic ties and to promote cultural relations between the two countries," she said.
Fan Xiaowei, head of the Chinese movie delegation, said all the movies are very famous in China and he is confident that through the films, the Cambodian people would know more about Chinese culture and traditions and the daily life of the Chinese people.
The China Today Arts Week, organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, is the largest and most inclusive of its kind in the history of cultural exchanges between Cambodia and China.
Besides the movie show, a group of Chinese vocalists, instrumentalists and acrobats also staged a series of Chinese traditional songs, dances, and acrobatics at the capital's Chaktomuk Theater.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An was among a thousand of spectators at the opening of the Chinese arts performance Monday evening.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Cambodia records 973 critically endangered white-shoulder ibis: survey

English.news.cn   2013-11-07 18:32:09

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has recorded some 973 white-shoulder ibis in its wild, making the country the stronghold for this critically endangered species, the conservationists group said Thursday.
BirdLife International and its partners including Cambodian Forestry Administration, People Resources and Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society and Worldwide Fund for Nature, implemented a coordinated survey of 59 white-shouldered ibis roosts at sites across Cambodia.
The consortium launched four monthly censuses of this species over the wet season and the September counts produced a staggering 973 individuals, the group said in a press release. "These results once again confirm that Cambodia is the stronghold for the white-shouldered ibis and that it contains the most globally significant population of this critically endangered species,"the release said.
It added that the result followed nearly a decade's conservation work by international and local NGOs and government agencies. "Conservation actions, such as nest protection to improve chick survival, may have contributed to this increasing number but the population increases observed are mainly due to increased survey effort and better knowledge of roost locations,"it said.
Many of the roost locations are either outside of protected areas or in threatened protected areas and the future of this species is far from certain, said Hugh Wright, an expert on this species from the University of Cambridge. "Many of these birds are at risk of losing their habitat from imminent changes in land use and currently more than 79 percent of the birds were censused on roosts outside the boundaries of legally protected areas,"he said.
The counts have identified western Siem Pang Proposed Protected Forest as the most important site for this species globally, with 451 individuals -- equal to 41 percent of the global population -- followed by Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary with 298 individuals.
However, both of these sites are threatened by Economic Land Concessions which will destroy key nesting and foraging habitats for this species, he said.
Other key sites in the national census include Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear province, Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri province and the Mekong Flooded Forest in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.
With a global population of only between 1,114 and 1,249 birds, Cambodia could hold as much as 97 percent of the world's white- shouldered ibises and the country is of vital importance for the species'conservation, the press release said.

Cambodian PM calls for troops to keep calm ahead of ICJ's verdict over border row with Thailand

English.news.cn   2013-11-07 21:14:15

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday called on troops along Cambodia-Thailand border to keep calm as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce its decision in the case regarding the disputed land near Preah Vihear Temple next Monday.
"I'd like to appeal to all types of armed forces who are on duties to defend the border to keep calm, exercise utmost restraint and avoid any activities that could lead to tension or clash,"he said in a special video recording, which was simultaneously broadcast on all local TV channels Thursday evening.
The premier also urged the compatriots to continue keeping good relations with the people of Thailand in order to further enhance solidarity, friendship and close cooperation between the two countries. "I and Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have agreed that whatever the verdict of the International Court of Justice on Nov. 11 is, the two countries have to comply with this decision and try to maintain peace and stability along the border at any cost,"Hun Sen said.
He stressed that the verdict will enable the two sides to end the conflict peacefully in the spirit of mutual respect for international law, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintain good neighboring relationship. "The Cambodian government has a firm policy to build a border with its neighboring countries as the border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development,"he said.
In his speech, the premier also explained the history of the conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations over Preah Vihear Temple to the compatriots.
The ICJ will announce its decision on the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over a 4.6 square-km land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple on Nov. 11 after Cambodia brought the case to the court in April 2011.
The ICJ awarded Cambodia the temple and its vicinity on June 15, 1962, but Thailand claimed the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple in 2008.
The temple had been a flashpoint of armed clashes between the two countries'troops since July 2008 when the UNESCO listed it as a world heritage site.
Hun Sen said in June 2011 that sporadic clashes left 24 Cambodian civilians and soldiers dead and caused serious damages to the temple.