Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin left here on Dec. 5 for the Republic of Cuba

National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin left here on Dec. 5 for the Republic of Cuba for a nine-day official and friendly visit, at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart H.E. Ricado Alarcon de Quesada.

During his stay in Cuba, Samdech Heng Samrin and his entourage will hold a bilateral talk with his Cuban counterpart and meet with the vice-chairman of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples and the chairman of the Cuban-Cambodian Friendship Association, according to a press release of the General Secretariat of the National Assembly.

The Cambodian National Assembly president is also scheduled to visit the High Scientific Center, the University of Informatic Sciences, the National Cultural Center of Cuba and the Historical Center.

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen was presiding a certificate to a graduated students ceremony

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen hands over here this morning a certificate as a symbol to a graduated student while he was presiding over the graduation ceremony for 1,280 students at the National Institute of Education.

H.E. Nguon Nhel attends the 5th Asian Parliamentary Session in Damask

Cambodia’s National Assembly First Vice President H.E. Nguon Nhel attends the 5^th Asian Parliamentary Session in Damask, the Arab Republic of Syria on Nov. 28, 2010.

The inauguration ceremony of the new Office Building of the Ministry of Social Affairs

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen cuts red ribbon here this morning to inaugurate the new Office Building of the Ministry of Social Affairs, War Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.

H.E. Nguon Nhel attends the 5th Meeting Asian Parliamentary

National Assembly’s First Vice President H.E. Nguon Nhel shakes hands with lawmakers at Phnom Penh International Airport on Nov. 26 prior to his departure to join the 5^th Meeting Asian Parliamentary (APA) and the 2^nd meeting of Executive Council of Asian Parliaments under the topic “The Role of the Asian Parliamentary in Finding Security and Peace in the Middle East Region” to be held in Syria from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3-2010.

H.E. Khieu Kanharith inspects the five Radio FM transmitters

Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith accompanied by the ministry’s senior officials inspects this morning at the National Radio of Cambodia the five Radio FM transmitters together with other relevant equipments which donated by Vietnam.

King of Cambodia poses for a group photo session with ACMECS leadership

His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni (3rd Right), King of Cambodia, poses for a group photo session with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (2nd Left) and his Lao, Myanmar and Thai counterparts and Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment during the Royal Audience in Phnom Penh Wednesday afternoon.

Myanmar and Thai Prime Minister Leave Cambodia

Prime Minister of Myanmar H.E. Thein Sein left here Wednesday evening after attending the two-day (Nov. 16-17) Summits of the 5th CLMV and the 4th ACMECS in Phnom Penh.

H.E. Thein Sein and his accompanied members were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by H.E. Ouch Borith, Cambodian Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other senior officials.
Myanmar Embassy representatives were also present on the occasion.

Besides, Myanmar Prime Minister H.E. Thein Seintogether with his Cambodian, Lao and Thai counterparts as well as the Vietnamese minister of Planning and Investment, were received in a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

He also held a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

Following on the same day, Thai Prime Minister H.E.Abhisit Vejjajiva also left here after attending the 4th ACMECS Summit.

During his one-day stay in Phnom Penh, the Thai premierAbhisit Vejjajiva held a close-door meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen on the sidelines of the 4th ACMECS Summit and the two leaders also witnessed the signing ceremony on the Visa Exemption Agreement for Holders of Ordinary Passports between the two Kingdoms.

Cambodia, Thailand Sign Agreement on Visa Exemption

Cambodia and Thailand signed here this evening the Agreement between the two neighboring countries on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports.

The agreement was signed by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Hor Namhong, and Thai Foreign Minister H.E. Kasit Piromya.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart H.E.Abhisit Vejjajiva witnessed the signing ceremony upon their close-door bilateral meeting.

“It is now time to minimize conflict and maximize resolution and cooperation, not only in the bilateral but also multilateral frameworks as we did these last two days. This is the symbol of cooperation as neighbors,” said the Cambodian premier at the press conference held here today at the end of the CLV, CLMV and ACMECS Summits.

During his one-day working visit to Cambodia, Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva participated in the 4th ACMECS Summit and was received in a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, along with his Cambodian, Lao and Burmese counterparts and Vietnamese minister of Planning and Investment as well as the ASEAN secretary-general.

Thailand is the 7th ASEAN country that has signed the agreement on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports with Cambodia. According to Undersecretary of State for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the agreement will come into force in one month.

Samdech Hun Sen holds a press briefing

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen holds a press briefing on the outcomes of the 6th CLV, the 5th CLMV and the 4th ACMECS Summits here this afternoon.

Cambodia Dispatches Troops for UN Mission in Lebanon

Cambodia sent this morning 197 troops, of them four women, to participate in the peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) framework.

The departure ceremony of the Cambodian Field Engineering Contingent 513 was held at Phnom Penh Military Airbase in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense H.E. Tea Banh; Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee H.E. Prak Sokhon; and UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick.

According to H.E. Prak Sokhon, the Engineering Unit 513 is a construction unit, attached with a mechanical and manual demining unit. An advance team of 21 persons had departed for Lebanon 10 days ago to settle the ground and receive equipment and supplies that were shipped out of Sihanoukville port in mid October.

Cambodia has so far trained and dispatched five demining units to Sudan and one order keeping unit of 42 men strong for movement control for the UN missions in Chad and Central African Republic, he said.

“ A total of 627 of armed forces, command officers and military observers have been sent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) mission in Sudan, Chad, and Central African Republic. Coupled with today’s departure of engineering unit 513, our total forces participating in the UN peacekeeping mission have reached 845 persons,” he indicated.

For his part, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Douglas Broderick applauded the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Peacekeeping Teams for their dedication to providing assistance abroad, to sharing their skills and experience with countries that are suffering due to conflict.

“Your work, and the work of other Cambodian peacekeepers, will help make development possible and give opportunities and hope to the people and to the communities in which they serve,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Tea Banh has reaffirmed the royal government’s strong determination in humanitarian contributions to the world peace and security through the process of sending its troops to different countries under UNPKO.

He also advised the Cambodian troops to respect and obey the military disciplines, ethics, and other international laws and regulations.

4th ACMECS Summit Opens

The 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit was held here this morning at the Peace Palace.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, and his counterparts from Laos, H.E. Bouasone Bouphavanh; Myanmar, H.E. Thein Sein; Thailand, H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva; and Vietnam, H.E.Nguyen Tan Dung; presided over the summit.

ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Surin Pitsuwan, foreign ministers, delegate ministers, relevant ministers and business representatives from the ACMECS countries also attended the event.

On the occasion, Cambodian Premier Samdech Techo Hun Sen recalled the past history of ACMECS, saying that the Bagan Declaration at the 1st Summit put forth five priorities for ACMECS cooperation including trade and investment facilitation, agricultural and industrial facilitation, communication system linkage, tourism cooperation, and human resource development.

In 2006, he said, the field of public health was included in the ACMECS cooperation while the field of agriculture and industry were divided into two separated fields to reflect their importance. After that, at the summit in Hanoi, environment became the 8th field of the cooperation, aiming at resolving issues related to environmental threats.

The broadening of the cooperation has shown the significance the member countries have given to this sub-regional economic cooperation strategy, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, adding that the most important thing is that ACMECS cooperation has been integrated into the master plan of ASEAN.

“The link of ACMECS contributes not only to the vision of ASEAN link, but also to the establishment of ASEAN Community by 2015,” he stressed.
The Cambodian prime minister believed that the continued efforts in trade, investment and tourism facilitation will help promote social economy and prosperity,” he said.

He also spoke of the climate change which he termed as life-and-death factor for the ACMECS countries’ future. Last month, ACMECS member countries, including Cambodia, were badly affected by abnormally heavy rain and flooding in several areas of the country.

As the ACMECS countries can be considered as a world important rice stock, the Cambodian leader hoped that the agricultural production domain, especially rice production, will become an important composition of our cooperation in the future.

He further emphasized the importance of support and participation of the private sector in achieving the ACMECS’ joint visions. He then asked the governments of ACMECS member countries to provide more opportunities to private sector so that it can participate in the ACMECS cooperation.
The development and prosperity of ACMECS are also inseparable from the support of the development partners.

ACMECS was officially established by the four member countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, at their first Summit Meeting on Nov. 12, 2003 in Bagan, the Union of Myanmar. With Vietnam’s accession to the group in 2004, ACMECS currently consists of five member countries.

Samdech Hun Sen hosts an official dinner

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen raises a glass of champagne to welcome his distinguished guests while he and his wife Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen hosting an official dinner here this evening in honor of the Prime Ministers of Laos, Myanmar, Viet Nam and their accompanied members together with Thai Foreign Minister and ASEAN Secretary General.

Cambodia, Myanmar Agree to Promote Cooperation

The Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Myanmar agreed to promote their cooperation, during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 5th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit held here today afternoon at the Peace Palace.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister of Myanmar, H.E. Thein Sein, suggested that the joint committee established since 1996 resume its meeting with an aim to promote the cooperation already signed and to push up other fields of cooperation, said Ieng Sophalet, assistance to the Cambodian premier.

The leader of Myanmar also informed Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen of the country’s general election on Nov. 7, stressing that this is the 5th of the 7-step road map of the Union of Myanmar.

He further expressed his satisfaction with the close cooperation between Cambodia and Myanmar, particularly through the visit exchange of both countries’ leaders. He also invited Samdech Techo Hun Sen to pay another official visit to Myanmar.

In reply, the Cambodian prime minister welcomed and congratulated Myanmar on the results of the election. He supported H.E. Thein Sein’s suggestion on bilateral cooperation, underlining that the two countries should further promote their cooperation, especially in the trade field.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen thanked Myanmar for having provided scholarship to Buddhist monks-students, and he said he would visit Myanmar in an appropriate time.

The opening ceremony of the 5th CLMV Summit

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the 5th CLMV Summit in Phnom Penh this afternoon.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen (Middle) poses for a group photo session with Prime Ministers of Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and ASEAN Secretary General during the opening ceremony of the 5th CLMV Summit in Phnom Penh this afternoon.

Thai PM arrives at Phnom Penh International Airport

Thai Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva arrives at Phnom Penh International Airport this morning to attend the 4th ACMECS Summit to be held here today.

The 6th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Summit

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen (Middle) together with Lao Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh (Right) and Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, pose for a photo session prior to the opening ceremony of the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Summit at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh this morning.

PM Hun Sen Receives His Vietnamese Counterpart

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received here this morning at the Peace Palace visiting Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung.

In the one-hour meeting, the Vietnamese premier highly valued the visit by King-Father, Queen-Mother and King Norodom Sihamoni to Vietnam in June this year, which he said helped further promote the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two neighboring countries, H.E. Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the Royal Government of Cambodia, told reporters upon the meeting.

H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung also expressed Vietnam’s irreversible stance in strengthening the good neighborliness with Cambodia as well as in enhancing and respecting Cambodia’s sovereignty.

He asked for the visit exchanges between the institutional, provincial and local leaders to increase mutual understanding and exchange experiences. He also invited Samdech Techo Hun Sen to pay a visit in Vietnam in an appropriate time.

The Vietnamese side wished to further boost the cooperation mechanisms between both countries as well as between the bordering provinces.

Vietnam asked for more cooperation, especially in the fields of aviation, banking, rubber, customs procedure facilitation, etc. and for more encouragement for Vietnamese investors and businessmen in Cambodia.

H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the Cambodian government for having prevented any anti-Vietnamese movement in Cambodia, assisted in searching remains of the Vietnamese soldiers fallen in Cambodia and authorized a Vietnamese company to explore oil and gas in Cambodia.

In reply, Premier Techo Hun Sen warmly welcomed the visit of his Vietnamese counterpart H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung, stressing that the visit will further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries and peoples, said H.E. Khieu Kanharith, also minister of Information.

The Cambodian prime minister accepted his counterpart’s propositions and suggestions and he asked the Vietnamese side to provide at least 170 MW of electric power to Cambodia from the end of this year. Vietnam has agreed to provide 200 MW of electric power to Cambodia, but so far only 120 MW have been provided.

Regarding the 2nd Sesan hydro-power dam, Samdech Techo Hun Sen has ordered the minister of Industry, Mine and Energy to accelerate the formalities for the construction of this dam.

Vietnamese Prime Minister assured that Vietnam will do its best to provide electricity at the Cambodia’s request.

After the talk, both premiers witnessed the signing ceremony of the Payment Agreement between the National Bank of Cambodia and the State Bank of Vietnam

Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung arrived here this morning for a one-day official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

He is also scheduled to attend the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Summit, the 5th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit and the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit to be hosted by Cambodia from Nov. 16 to 17.

The ACMECS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Hor Namhong, chairs the ACMECS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh this morning.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Hor Namhong (3rd Left), Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, poses for a group of photo session with Foreign Ministers of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and ASEAN Secretary General prior to the opening ceremony of the ACMECS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh this morning.

ACMECS Business Forum on Economic Cooperation

Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) forum was held at Cambodiana Hotel in Phnom Penh today morning with the participation of roughly 350 businesspersons from ACMECS countries.

The forum was co-chaired by Oknha Kith Meng, chairman of Cambodia ACMECS joint Business Council and President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Chinda Vongsouly, representative of the Lao PDR ACMECS JBC and President of the Champasak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Win Aung, Chairman of Myanmar ACMECS JBC, vice president of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Tanit Sorat, vice chairman of Thai ACMECS JBC and vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, and H.E.Pham Gia Tuc, representative of the Vietnam ACMECS JBC and vice chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The discussion focused on the priority areas of trading cooperation and set out a target for the arrangement of trade and investments, tourism, the cooperation on agriculture and transport, the promotion of industry and human resources development.

Samdech Heng Samrin warmly receives visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister

Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin (Right) warmly receives visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung in Phnom Penh this afternoon.

Cambodian Senate President Meets Visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister

Cambodian Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim met here today with Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung, who is now on an official visit to Cambodia.

The Cambodian senate president expressed his welcome to the visit of the Vietnamese prime minister to Cambodia, through which he said the ties of friendship and the multiform cooperation between the two nations would be further enhanced.

He expressed thanks to the party and the government of Vietnam for contributing to the peace process of Cambodia as well as providing the assistance to the national development in Cambodia.

He hoped that Vietnam would continue providing assistance to Cambodia.

In reply, the Vietnamese prime minister said his visit to Cambodia is to boost the fraternal relation and the cooperation between the two countries.

He appreciated the national development in Cambodia under the leadership of Cambodian leaders.

He also highlighted the continuation of Vietnam’s assistance to Cambodia, mainly the multiform cooperation on economy and tourism, especially the development of bordering provinces between the two countries.

On the same day, the Vietnamese premier was also received in a royal audience by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and met with National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

Vietnamese Prime Minister H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung arrived here this morning for a one-day official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart.

He is also scheduled to attend the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Summit, the 5th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV) Summit and the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit to be hosted by Cambodia on Nov. 16-17.

The 57th Anniversary of Cambodia’s Independence Day

His Majesty Preah Bath PreahBoromneath Norodom Sihamomi, King of Cambodia together with National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhear Chakrei Heng Samrin; Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen as well as senators, lawmakers and senior government officials, respect the national anthem at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh today to mark the 57th Anniversary of Cambodia’s Independence Day (Nov.9-1953-Nov.9-2010).