Cambodian PM's son, superstars take Ice Bucket

English.news.cn   2014-08-23 16:35:15

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's youngest son Hun Many and several superstars took the Ice Bucket challenge on Saturday to help raise fund for the Kuntha Bopha Pediatric Hospitals and other charities, according to video clips posted on their Facebook pages.
It is the first time the challenge is introduced in Cambodia.
"I am happy to take the Ice Bucket challenge, which is held for a humanitarian cause," said Hun Many, who is also a lawmaker and president of the Cambodia's Union of Youth Federation.
"I would like to appeal to the members of the federation and generous people to take the challenge in order to raise money for charities," he said before two men poured a bucket of ice water on his head.
After taking the challenge, Hun Many nominated several young leaders to do it next.
Those nominated included Environment Minister Say Samal, son of the ruling party's secretary general Say Chhum, and lawmaker Sar Sokha, son of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng, as well as other heirs of Cambodian leaders.
The challenge, originated from the United States, requires people to post videos of themselves being doused with cold water and publicly nominate others to do the same within 24 hours.
Kham Puri, a producer of Hang Meas Video Production, who initiated the challenge, said in Cambodia, if nominated people dare to take the challenge within 24 hours, they donate only 10 U. S. dollars to the Kuntha Bopha Hospital Foundation, but if they dare not, the donation will be doubled.
The Ice Bucket challenge campaign has become popular around the world through social networks. Some of the most famous people have been drenching themselves in cold water and posting the videos online.
Other video clips posted on Saturday showed a male-superstar Nop Panharith and a famous female-singer Pich Sophea, both are in the Hang Meas Video Production, taking the challenge with a message encouraging people to join it in order to raise fund for the hospitals and other charities.

Editor: xuxin

Cambodia's parliament leadership reshuffle set for next week: PM

English.news.cn   2014-08-18 13:18:22

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at a food security and nutrition conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 18, 2014. The 123 Cambodian Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling and opposition parties will vote on Tuesday next week to elect their leadership, Prime Minister Hun Sen, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), said on Monday. (Xinhua/Phearum)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 123 Cambodian Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling and opposition parties will vote on Tuesday next week to elect their leadership, Prime Minister Hun Sen, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), said on Monday.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)'s 55 MPs ended their 10-month long boycott of parliament early this month after Hun Sen and CNRP's President Sam Rainsy reached an agreement to end their differences over last year's election that saw the ruling party won 68 seats.
Under the deal, the CNRP will hold the position of the first vice president of the parliament and chair five of the 10 commissions in the legislative body. Moreover, it will control four of nine seats on the would-be National Election Committee.
"On Tuesday next week, there will be votes for the parliament leadership," Hun Sen said at a food security and nutrition conference.
"Please don't worry, the Cambodian People's Party will honor our promise and vote for the CNRP's candidates in those posts."
The prime minister's guarantee came after some opposition MPs voiced their concerns that the ruling party might break the promise and do not vote for them.
Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the parliament's current president Heng Samrin will remain the president, while the current first vice president Nguon Nhel will relinquish that position to the CNRP and become second vice president.

Editor: Yang Yi

Cambodia, China to jointly establish technology transfer center

English.news.cn | 2014-08-18 17:18:25 | Editor: Yang Yi

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and China on Monday signed an agreement toward establishing a Cambodia- China Technology Transfer Center, aiming to utilize science and technology for socio-economic development, officials said. The deal was inked by Liu Jianhong, deputy director-general of Science and Technology Department of China's Guangxi province and permanent deputy chief of China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center, Cao Yun De, president of Cambodia International Cooperation Organization, and Ting Siny, chairman of Cambodia-ASEAN committee on Science and Technology, under the presence of Cham Prasidh, Cambodian Minister of Industry and Handicraft. Liu said the establishment of the Cambodia-China Technology Transfer Center was made under the cooperation framework in science and technology between China and ASEAN. "It is the first agreement that China signed with ASEAN member states since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center in Sept. 2013," he said. "It is a new chapter of cooperation in science and technology between China and Cambodia." Cham Prasidh expressed his full support for the formation of the center, saying that science and technology are the backbone of national development. "Science and technology can boost national development, create jobs, and support the development of all sectors," he said. Cao Yun De said that the center will be located in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. "I believe that the center will play an important role to strengthen and expand cooperation in science and technology between the two countries," he said.

IFC sells stake in Cambodia's commercial bank to Japanese bank

English.news.cn   2014-08-18 15:09:57

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has sold its 12.25 percent stake in Acleda bank to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in an undisclosed amount after having supported Acleda for over 15 years, said an IFC news statement on Monday.
IFC has partnered with Acleda bank since 1999 when the bank was undergoing a transformation from a nongovernmental organization into a microfinance institution, the statement said, adding that as a founding shareholder, IFC has helped the bank grow over the last 15 years into the largest Cambodian bank.
"We highly appreciate our long-term partnership with IFC and its significant support to our growth for more than a decade," said Dr. In Channy, Chief Executive Officer of Acleda bank. "We look forward to continuing our partnership and opportunities for collaboration in the future as our bank grows."
IFC's financing and technical support has helped Acleda expand its financial services to Laos and Myanmar, and IFC is a shareholder in Acleda Microfinance Institution in Myanmar, the statement said.
"We have successfully supported Acleda bank's transition into a commercial microfinance institution and then a full-service commercial bank," said Adel Meer, IFC's financial institutions group manager for East Asia and the Pacific.
"With its financial strength and expertise, we believe SMBC is a strong strategic partner that can support Acleda's continued long-term growth and contribute to Cambodia's economic development and job creation," he said.
Masayuki Shimura, managing director and head of the Asia Pacific division of SMBC, said that SMBC is truly honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Acleda bank. "The investment is aimed to further enhance the existing collaborative relationship between our two banks and to meet the various needs of customers in Cambodia and Asia," he said.

Editor: Yang Yi

(Sports) Cambodia's famed Angkor heritage site holds 1st int'l marathon

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia hosted the first Angkor Empire Marathon on Sunday at the complex of the Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site, in the cultural city of Siem Reap province.

Thong Khon, president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), said a total of 2,630 professional and amateur athletes, including some 1,370 foreigners from 42 countries, joined the race in the distances of 42 km for a full marathon, 21 km for a half marathon and a 10-km run.

For the full marathon, about 415 foreign runners and five Cambodian athletes joined the contest.

"It is the first time that a full marathon event is held in Cambodia," he said at the event. "It is aimed to attract more tourists to Angkor Wat temple during the rainy season."

The proceeds raised from the event will go to local charities, he said.

The competition took place in front of the centerpiece of Angkor Wat temple, where athletes ran around the ancient temple full of architectural beauty and scenery.

According to the results released by the NOCC, the men's full marathon race was awarded to Japanese comedian Neko Hiroshi, who also holds Cambodian nationality, in a time of two hours, forty- five minutes and twenty-eight seconds; Japanese Ba Gan took the second place in 3:01:34; and French Yan Defond was third in 3:20: 04.

While the women's full marathon run was won by French Messina Veionique, who finished in 3:36:08; Chinese Wai Fongchan took the second place in 3:43:25; and Finnish Mari Kauri came at third in 3: 45:42.

The 12th century Angkor Wat temple, the kingdom's largest tourist destination, greeted 1.24 million foreign visitors in the first six months of 2014, up 10 percent over the same period last year, said a tourism report.

Japan-Cambodia direct flights to start next month: minister

English.news.cn   2014-08-15 19:21:25

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese airline will launch regular direct flights from Japan to Cambodia next month in order to further boost economics, trade, and tourism ties between the two countries, Akihiro Ohta, visiting Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said Friday.
Ohta unveiled the plan during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. "There will be direct flights from Narita Airport (Tokyo) to Phnom Penh in September and from Narita Airport to cultural city of Siem Reap province in October,"he said.
He said Japan wanted to create cooperation with Cambodia in infrastructure sector such as the development of highways, clean water system and civil aviation.
For his part, Hun Sen said he fully supported direct flight connection between the two nations as it would further broaden bilateral ties and cooperation.

Editor: Mioh Song

(Sports) Asia Cross Country Rally ends in Cambodian capital

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2014 Asia Cross Country rally ended here Friday afternoon after 22 rally cars were flagged off from Thailand's coastal city of Pattaya on Saturday last week.

The 2,200km Thailand-Cambodia rally, regarded as a grueling test of courage and endurance for both man and machine, ended in Kampong Speu province and the rallyists made another short trip to Phnom Penh for an award ceremony.

During the week-long rally, participants from Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, and China's Taiwan drove their four-wheel vehicles from Pattaya beach through Sa Kaeo province and crossed over Cambodia for the World Heritage Angkor Wat and raced through Battambang province before reaching Kampong Speu province and Phnom Penh. "It was the first time that Cambodian athletes joined the automobile adventure, which was organized to promote international goodwill and friendship among countries in Asia," said Vath Chamroeun, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.

The Asia Cross Country Rally, first held in 1996, is the largest Feddration Internationale de l'Automobile-certified (FIA) cross country rally in Asia. The rally route is designed to cover many types of terrain like jungles, swamps river-crossings, dirty roads and so on.

Thai racers gained the championship and the second and third places.

6th China-built hydropower dam in Cambodia starts operation

English.news.cn   2014-08-14 15:16:34

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The sixth China-built hydropower plant, located in the Koh Kong province of southwestern Cambodia, has begun producing electricity after more than four- year construction, the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) said in a statement on Thursday.
CHMC started to develop the 246-megawatt Tatay River Hydropower Plant in 2010. The dam comprises three generators, each is capable to produce the power of 82 megawatts, the statement said.
"One of the generators began operation on Wednesday as the construction of the remaining two generators is still going on," it said.
"The dam's operation will contribute to developing economic activities and reducing electricity shortage in Cambodia."
The statement said CHMC's president Lu Wenjun has recently visited the plant and commended Chinese and Cambodian engineers and workers for their efforts to construct the dam.
CHMC invested 540 million U.S. dollars to build the dam, which is a concessional contract of a 42-year build-operate-transfer ( BOT). Under the deal, the plant sells power to the state-owned Electricity of Cambodia.
China is the largest investor in building hydroelectric dams in Cambodia. According to the Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy, Chinese companies have invested over 1.6 billion U.S. dollars to construct six hydroelectric dams in Cambodia with the total capacity of 928 megawatts.
So far, all six dams have come into operations.

Editor: Fu Peng

Cambodia sees 20 pct decline in cassava export in 6 months

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had exported 226,000 tons of fresh and dry cassava in the first half of 2014, a decrease of 20 percent over the same period last year, said the figures provided by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.

However, the country saw a 20-percent increase in revenue from 15 million U.S. dollars during the January-June period last year to 18 million dollars at the same period this year.

Som Yen, director of Banteay Meanchey province-based cassava broker Malai Trading Company, said the decline in the quantity of cassava, or tapioca, was due to flood devastation last year.

"But the price of cassava this year is good," he told Xinhua, adding that a ton of dry cassava was purchased from farmers at the price of 188 U.S. dollars on Thursday, up 11 percent compared with about 169 U.S. dollars at this time last year.

"This year, a lot of farmers have flocked to grow cassava as profit margins on the crop continue to rise," he said.

Cassava, used to produce animal feed and ethanol, has been exported to Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and China. Usually, farmers plant it in March or April and harvest it from November to February.

According to data issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, cassava growing covered 421,000 hectares last year, yielding some 8.42 million tons of freshly harvested cassava.

Cambodia's insurance premiums up 21 pct in H1

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's insurance industry reported a total premium of nearly 27 million U.S. dollars in the first six months of this year, up 21 percent over the same period last year, an official report showed Thursday.

The main sources of the premium were from the insurances of fire, engineering, marine cargo, vehicles, health, and personal accident, said the report of the General Insurance Association of Cambodia (GIAC).

GIAC's President Huy Vatharo said the growth clearly showed better economic situation and more awareness of insurance advantages among the public.

"Insurance sector is now playing a very important role to build investors confidence in their businesses," he said. "We expect a better growth in the second half of this year."

The Southeast Asian nation has nine insurers including six general insurance firms and three life insurers.

In June, the Parliament passed the insurance law aimed at ensuring the sustainability and accountability in the nascent industry.

Under the law, to open an insurance company, the insurer must have the minimum capital of 7 million U.S. dollars.

Scores of ethnic Khmer Krom hold fresh rally against Vietnamese diplomat

English.news.cn   2014-08-11 14:53:30

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- About 500 ethnic minority Khmer Krom monks and activists on Monday staged a fresh protest here to demand a Vietnamese diplomat to recognize the "true history" of the former Kampuchea Krom provinces.
It was the third rally in the last two months after Trung Van Thong, a spokesman for the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, reportedly said in June that the former Kampuchea Krom provinces belonged to Vietnam long before France's official transfer of the land in 1949.
Protesters gathered at the Freedom Park, a protest-designated site, in Phnom Penh City before marching through streets in the city to deliver a petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies of ASEAN countries in order to seek their help to press the Vietnamese diplomat to recognize the true history. "The purpose of our protest is still the same -- demanding an apology from the Vietnamese spokesman and urging him to accept the 'true history' of the former Kampuchea Krom provinces," Thach Sitha, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association, told reporters while leading the rally.
After handing their petition to the ministry and those embassies, the group continued marching to the Vietnamese Embassy, where security has been tightened.
There was no any report of violence during the protest.
According to the history, French protectorate officially turned over the former Kampuchea Krom, once Cambodian territory, to neighboring Vietnam on June 4, 1949.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia on July 8 issued a statement to condemn the protest, considering the move an act of intervention into the sovereignty and internal affairs of Vietnam. "Southern Vietnam (Kampuchea Krom) is an integral part of the territory of Vietnam, in compliance with international law, fully recognized by the United Nations, international organizations and all countries in the world,"the statement said.

Editor: xuxin

Cambodia launches 1st radio station for disabled people

English.news.cn   2014-08-09 20:17:47

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Saturday launched a "Voice of Disabled Persons" radio station, aiming to promote the awareness of the rights of people with disabilities and to broaden opportunities for them in socio-economic development activities, officials said.
Ngin Saoroth, executive director of the Cambodian Disabled People's Organization, said the Phnom Penh-based radio station, the first of its kind in the country, began broadcasting at a frequency of FM 92.25 MHz to cultural Siem Reap province and at a frequency of FM 88.75 MHz to coastal Preah Sihanouk province.
"The radio is to serve people with disabilities, particularly visually impaired people," he said, adding that the station is financially supported by Australia through the United Nations Development Program, and Abilis Foundation of Finland.
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the radio would greatly contribute to promoting greater roles of people with disabilities in socio-economic development.
"This radio station belongs to disabled persons in Cambodia, and they can have their say through the radio," he said at the inauguration ceremony.
The government estimated that the country has about 301,629 persons with disabilities, equivalent to 2.06 percent of the total population.

Editor: Fu Peng

Floods kill 19 Cambodians as thousands evacuated

English.news.cn   2014-08-09 17:42:22

KANDAL, Cambodia, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 people in Cambodia have died and thousands have been evacuated from homes to higher grounds in floods caused by monsoon rains and rivers overflowing their banks, a senior official said Saturday.
"Since last week, floods have killed 19 people," Nhim Vanda, 1st vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), told reporters while inspecting flood situation in Southern Kandal province. "Besides, more than 8,000 families have been evacuated from their homes to higher grounds."
The official said currently, 12 of the country's 25 cities and provinces are suffering from floods caused by monsoon rains and the Mekong river overflowing.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday appealed to dwellers along the Mekong river and Tonle Sap Lake to be extra vigilant over flooding and ordered local authorities to work closely with the Cambodian Red Cross to assist flood-affected families.
Flooding usually hits Cambodia between August and October. Last year, it killed 168 people and affected other 1.8 million people, according to the NCDM.

Editor: Tang Danlu