The First Japan-Mekong Summit in Tokyo

A high-level delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia headed by Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen backs home this afternoon after attending the First Japan-Mekong Summit in Tokyo, Japan from November 6-7.

Premier Techo Hun Sen and his accompanied members were warmly greeted on their arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sar Kheng, Minister of Interior; Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok An, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers; and other senior government officials.

During his stay in Japan, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo held a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart H.E. Yokio Yatoyama, in which the Japanese Prime Minister pledged to help construct Cambodia’s Neak Leoung Bridge.

Speaking to the press upon his arrival at the airport, Samdech Hun Sen said that due to the border issue situation becoming calm, he plans to order Brigade 911 to pull out from the area within one week. He added that there is only the tense issue between Bangkok and Phnom Penh not between the whole Thai and Cambodian peoples.

He said that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit recalled his ambassador by the demand of a small group of the Thai Yellow T-Shirt and Cambodia just reciprocated. Premier Techo Hun Sen went on to say that there are some opinions mentioned that Thailand will shut its border with Cambodia, if there is true, Cambodia will reciprocate and will boycott all Thailand’s products by not allowing to enter Cambodian markets.

He further said that there are some countries that export their products to Cambodia. The volume of Thailand’s products exported to Cambodia in 2008 has reached some US$ 2,000 million, while Cambodia products imported to Thailand has reached only more than US$ 90 million.

“I would like to inform Mr. Abhisit that you don’t know how to allocate between the personal and national interests regarding the issue of Cambodia’s appointment of former Thai Premier Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra as economic advisor, he said, adding that Mr. Abhisit himself has spoiled the two peoples’ interests by throwing the interests into the trash.