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.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
Monday, January 16, 2012
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.
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.
"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.
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