Cambodia approves China-Cambodia Consular Convention

PHNOM PENH, The Cambodia's government on Friday approved the China-Cambodia Consular Convention aimed to not only improve the two countries' diplomatic ties but also to facilitate the trade flows between the two countries, said the government's release.

"The cabinet meeting agreed and approved a draft agreement on China-Cambodia Consul given gradually increasing of economic, trade, investment and tourism relations between Cambodia and China," said the release.

"This convention is also aimed at protecting the rights and the individual interest of the two peoples," it added.

The government release also said that Cambodia has six consular offices in China.

Cambodia received 2.16 million tourists last year compared with about 2.13 million in 2008, a two percent increase, while 114,894 tourists from China.

China is also the Cambodia's biggest foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the state-run investment agency of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
Read more!

Hun Sen only PM candidate of Cambodia's ruling party: CPP

The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) reassured Thursday that Prime Minister Hun Sen is the only candidate for the prime minister from its party for the next elections.

Giving speech at the party's commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the downfall of the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime, Chea Sim, president of the CPP and president of the Senate said that Hun Sen will be the "only candidate from his party for prime ministerial position" in next general election.

Hun Sen, 57, has been in power for already 25 years and is considered the longest government leader in office in Asia.

After several decades of civil war, Cambodia held its first general election in 1993 under the full supports from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).

Since then, Cambodia hold its election every five years and HunSen was re-elected prime minister ever since.

Source: Xinhua
Read more!

U.S. to consider turning Cambodia's debt into development aid

The United States Congressman Eni Faleomavaega told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursdaythat he will discuss with his colleagues about Cambodia's debt if it can be turned into assistance for development projects in this country, a Cambodian official said.

Eang Sophaleth, Hun Sen's spokesman told local reporters that during the meeting with Hun Sen on Thursday morning in Phnom Penh,Eni Faleomavaega said he will discuss with his colleagues after returning to the United States about the debt.

Eni Faleomavaega, who was accompanied by his two Congressmen Joseph Cao and Mike Honda, was making a two-day visit to Cambodia.

Cambodia has several times asked the United States government to consider canceling its debt amounting to some 300 million U.S. dollars it borrowed since 1972.

The U.S. has not yet answered to Cambodia's request for the debt written-off.

Cheam Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Commission and a senior member of the Cambodian People's Party said several countries including China have written off Cambodia's debts owed some decades ago.

Cambodia is also asking Russia to cancel its debt that amounts around to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Source: Xinhua
Read more!