Cambodian PM meets with governor of Guangxi of China

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Thursday met with Ma Biao, Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, on beefing up the cooperation between the two sides.

Hun Sen welcomed the Cambodia-Guangxi cooperation and requested Guangxi to focus especially on agriculture, Ieng Sophalet, assistant to the premier, told reporters after the meeting.

In addition, Hun Sen asked Guangxi to consider building a motor-pump factory in Cambodia, said Ieng Sophalet.

The prime minister also expressed his support for opening direct flights from Guilin, Guangxi to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, he added.

During the meeting, Ma highly praised Cambodia for its development, and reiterated his region's commitment to continuing its cooperation with Cambodia, said Ieng Sophalet.

Ma told the premier that his visit aimed to invite Hun Sen to attend the upcoming China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, the provincial capital of Guangxi, and to strengthen the cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture, culture, infrastructure, construction, imports and exports, as well as information technology.

The visit also aimed at opening direct flights from Guilin to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and bringing more investment from Guangxi to Cambodia, particularly in the field of industry, Ma said.

The governor also told Hun Sen that his province is willing to contribute to human resource development in Cambodia by providing scholarships for Cambodian students

Ma and his delegation arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day visit.

The governor also met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong on Thursday, Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh on Wednesday, and Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries Chan Sarun on Thursday.

Cham Prasidh told Ma that he will lead a delegation to join the China-ASEAN Expo to be held in Nanning in October.

On Friday, Ma and Cham Prasidh will sign a memorandum of understanding on economic and commercial cooperation between Cambodia and Guangxi.

According to official figures, the bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and Guangxi reached 12.39 million U.S. dollars in 2008.