President Roh Moo-hyun, left, toasts with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen after signing bilateral agreement on economic cooperation at the premier's office in Phnom Penh, Monday. /Korea Times 11-20-2006
By Ryu Jin
Korea Times Correspondent
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - President Roh Moo-hyun and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Monday agreed to enhance ties between South Korea and Cambodia, especially in the field of information-technology (IT).
In summit talks, the two leaders discussed ways to substantially develop bilateral trade, and economic and cultural relations, Chong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tai-young said in a press briefing.
After the summit, officials from the two countries signed pacts, including agreements on South Korea’s provision of $31 million through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to help Cambodia build up its e-government system, and a visa waiver program for government officials.
Labor ministers from the two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide legal grounds for Cambodians to work in South Korea based on a manpower training system.
Roh held a luncheon meeting with business leaders from the two countries and met with South Korean residents here in the afternoon, before a state dinner hosted by Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim, the acting head of state.
Roh arrived here on Sunday after the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hanoi. He is the first South Korean president to make a state visit to Cambodia since the two nations re-established ties almost a decade ago.
Officials said Roh’s four-day visit will help pave the way for Korean businesses to advance into the Cambodian market as Cambodia is soliciting investment from the Korean private sector for projects geared to the eradication of poverty.
But Roh’s visit came four days after the departure of King Norodom Sihamoni, who the Cambodian foreign ministry said earlier had invited Roh.
Sihamoni left Cambodia Wednesday for China where his father, retired King Sihanouk spends much of his time. Sihanouk has long-standing personal ties with North Korea.
In a statement before his departure, the king did not give specific reasons for not staying to meet Roh and only said he was going through China on his way to a state visit and medical examination in France.
Roh was received Chea Sim, the acting head of state during the king’s absence and the leader of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party.
South Korea first established diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1970 soon after a pro-U.S. military putsch ousted Sihanouk in a coup. But relations were disrupted after the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia.
Diplomatic ties were restored in 1997 when Cambodia was slowly beginning to return to democracy and opening up its market to foreign investors. South Korea’s investment in Cambodia amounts to about $219 million now.
South Koreans account for the largest portion of foreign tourists in Cambodia as an increasing number of people come the country to visit the World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple complex. Roh will visit there Tuesday.
Roh asked Cambodian leaders ``for special attention’’ to safeguard South Korean tourists, who in recent years have become the top foreign visitors to the kingdom, according to officials accompanying him.
jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr
In summit talks, the two leaders discussed ways to substantially develop bilateral trade, and economic and cultural relations, Chong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tai-young said in a press briefing.
After the summit, officials from the two countries signed pacts, including agreements on South Korea’s provision of $31 million through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to help Cambodia build up its e-government system, and a visa waiver program for government officials.
Labor ministers from the two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide legal grounds for Cambodians to work in South Korea based on a manpower training system.
Roh held a luncheon meeting with business leaders from the two countries and met with South Korean residents here in the afternoon, before a state dinner hosted by Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim, the acting head of state.
Roh arrived here on Sunday after the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hanoi. He is the first South Korean president to make a state visit to Cambodia since the two nations re-established ties almost a decade ago.
Officials said Roh’s four-day visit will help pave the way for Korean businesses to advance into the Cambodian market as Cambodia is soliciting investment from the Korean private sector for projects geared to the eradication of poverty.
But Roh’s visit came four days after the departure of King Norodom Sihamoni, who the Cambodian foreign ministry said earlier had invited Roh.
Sihamoni left Cambodia Wednesday for China where his father, retired King Sihanouk spends much of his time. Sihanouk has long-standing personal ties with North Korea.
In a statement before his departure, the king did not give specific reasons for not staying to meet Roh and only said he was going through China on his way to a state visit and medical examination in France.
Roh was received Chea Sim, the acting head of state during the king’s absence and the leader of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party.
South Korea first established diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1970 soon after a pro-U.S. military putsch ousted Sihanouk in a coup. But relations were disrupted after the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia.
Diplomatic ties were restored in 1997 when Cambodia was slowly beginning to return to democracy and opening up its market to foreign investors. South Korea’s investment in Cambodia amounts to about $219 million now.
South Koreans account for the largest portion of foreign tourists in Cambodia as an increasing number of people come the country to visit the World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple complex. Roh will visit there Tuesday.
Roh asked Cambodian leaders ``for special attention’’ to safeguard South Korean tourists, who in recent years have become the top foreign visitors to the kingdom, according to officials accompanying him.
jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr
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