Monday, October 23, 2006

Cambodia highly values China's contribution, it sure reminisces the 1970-1979 period when China was the Khmer Rouge banker

October 23, 2006
Cambodia highly values China's contribution to ASEAN

ASEAN regards China as one of its most active dialogue partners in supporting ASEAN's integration and its community-building efforts, said Hor Namhong, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.

Hor made the remarks in a written statement exclusively for Xinhua on the occasion that the two sides will hold a commemorative summit on Oct. 30 in China to mark the 15th anniversary of establishing dialogue relations between ASEAN and China.

For example, Hor said, in 2001, China provided 5 million U.S. dollars to implement joint activities and measures between the two sides, and in 2005, China contributed another 5 million dollars to the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund.

"Last year, China announced two major initiatives to support ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). One is that China provides 5 billion dollars of preferential loans to support projects invested by Chinese companies in the ASEAN member countries. Another is China's offer of one-third of 10 billion dollars of the concession loans to be provided to the ASEAN member countries," he said.

China has also provided the Generalized System of Preference (GSP) status to the least developing countries of ASEAN in order to help increase their trade with China and thus promote their economic development, said Hor.

"At the same time, China has been actively supporting the human resources development of ASEAN and promoting the exchange of youths between both sides as an important priority," he added.

This year, Hor said, ASEAN welcomed China's contribution to the ASEAN Development Fund and China's funding assistance to support ASEAN's community-building efforts, including the implementation of the Plans of Action of the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, as well as the Vientiane Action Program and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration.

"ASEAN also very much appreciated the goodwill of the Chinese government's intention to complete the construction of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, which is an important infrastructure development project between ASEAN and China that is vital to boost economic development, growth and trade between the two sides in the region," he added.

Source: Xinhua

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