Cambodian premier Hun Sen leaves for S. Korea on official visit

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) and his wife Bunrany greet officials, before his departure to South Korea, at Phnom Penh international airport March 20, 2006. Hun Sen will pay a three-day official visit to South Korea beginning Monday, an official said. REUTERS/Chor Sokuthea

PHNOM PENH, March 20 (Kyodo) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen left for South Korea on Monday on an official visit.

During a four-day stay, Hun Sen will hold talks with President Roh Moo Hyun and witness the signing of bilateral agreements on tourism, labor and loans, the government said in a statement.

Hun Sen's visit to South Korea is his second since April 2001. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1997.

A Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman said South Korea is expected to grant loans of about $27 million to Cambodia for development projects.

According to the latest tourism statistics, South Koreans topped the list of foreign visitors to Cambodia in 2005 at 216,584, followed by Japanese at 137,849, and Americans at 109,419.