South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun to arrive for state visit to Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is set to arrive in Cambodia Sunday for the first top-level state visit since the two countries re-established ties almost a decade ago.
The four-day visit will help pave "the way for Korean businesses to advance into the Cambodian market," a statement from the South Korean government said.
Cambodia "is actively soliciting investment from the Korean private sector for projects geared to the eradication of poverty," it said.
But Roh's visit came four days after the departure of King Norodom Sihamoni, who the Cambodian foreign ministry said earlier had invited the president.
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.
The king, in a statement before his departure, did not give 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 will be received by Cambodian Senate President 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 ties with Cambodia in 1970 soon after a pro-U.S. military putsch ousted Sihanouk in a coup. But relations were disrupted after the communist Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia. The two countries restored ties in 1997 when Cambodia was slowly beginning to return to democracy and opening up its market to foreign investors.
The South Korean government statement said the country's investment in Cambodia amounted to about US$219 million (€euros 171.4 million) and that it "will pick up speed" following Roh's trip.
It said that two-way trade last year was worth some US$150 million (€euros 117.4 million), with South Korea exporting US$144 million (€euros 112.7 million) in textiles, used automobiles and medical products. South Korea imported about US$6 million (€euros 4.7 million) in clothing, natural rubber and fishery products from Cambodia last year.
Since the restoration of ties Seoul has provided US$91.4 million (€euros 71.5 million) in loans and US$17.7 (euros €13.9) in grants to Cambodia, the statement said.
It said Roh will ask Cambodian leaders "for special attention" to safeguard South Korean tourists, who in recent years have topped the chart of foreign visitors to the kingdom.
Following their talks, Roh and Hun Sen will preside over the signing of a visa waiver agreement for diplomats and government officials of both countries, a Cambodian government statement said.
The four-day visit will help pave "the way for Korean businesses to advance into the Cambodian market," a statement from the South Korean government said.
Cambodia "is actively soliciting investment from the Korean private sector for projects geared to the eradication of poverty," it said.
But Roh's visit came four days after the departure of King Norodom Sihamoni, who the Cambodian foreign ministry said earlier had invited the president.
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.
The king, in a statement before his departure, did not give 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 will be received by Cambodian Senate President 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 ties with Cambodia in 1970 soon after a pro-U.S. military putsch ousted Sihanouk in a coup. But relations were disrupted after the communist Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia. The two countries restored ties in 1997 when Cambodia was slowly beginning to return to democracy and opening up its market to foreign investors.
The South Korean government statement said the country's investment in Cambodia amounted to about US$219 million (€euros 171.4 million) and that it "will pick up speed" following Roh's trip.
It said that two-way trade last year was worth some US$150 million (€euros 117.4 million), with South Korea exporting US$144 million (€euros 112.7 million) in textiles, used automobiles and medical products. South Korea imported about US$6 million (€euros 4.7 million) in clothing, natural rubber and fishery products from Cambodia last year.
Since the restoration of ties Seoul has provided US$91.4 million (€euros 71.5 million) in loans and US$17.7 (euros €13.9) in grants to Cambodia, the statement said.
It said Roh will ask Cambodian leaders "for special attention" to safeguard South Korean tourists, who in recent years have topped the chart of foreign visitors to the kingdom.
Following their talks, Roh and Hun Sen will preside over the signing of a visa waiver agreement for diplomats and government officials of both countries, a Cambodian government statement said.
5 comments:
Ah Hun Sen now tries his best and roll his ball to get Khmer people to love him and vote for him for 2008. Get lost only Ah Stupid Khmer and Ah dumb members of CPP vote for you and the prince. The mindful and right wing won't vote for your ball.
Congratulation Vietnamese government who plays a smart move with the Chinese, Russian ,and now The US. Now the US companies have their eyes on the Vietnam's market. Where is Cambodia, Hun Sen? He is good to help Vietnam to be prosper and conquer Cambodia land. Watch out Khmer! When Vietnam becomes stronger, Cambodia will lose more land and they will conquer Cambodia once again. We're so stupid and we deserve to be someone's servant. From the stupid King, dump queen, no brain prince, hooker princess, left wing (CPP) prime minister, left wing ministers, and left wing ordinary people, all of these are destroying Cambodia and her people every day, minute, and second. They create jungle law, grabbing land, rob the people, etc...
Whoever said that Cambodia now is changing a lot. My friends, it's only residential buildings in Phnom Penh only, but other provinces are still the same. When driving outside the capitol, you don't see anything. Where are the high tech industries, even food industries we don't have. Only low job cloth factories that pay a minimum wage are in Cambodia.
Our country is just a small pond that neighbors can grab anytime. Now CPP will have more power when the oil pumps in 2009. Swiss bank will be generated more money from CPP gangsters.
When will the stupid Khmer wake up and united to overthrow this traitors??
This king is not dared to meet the president of South Korea, because he was instructed by his stupid father Sihanouk to stay closed with the leader of North Korean
Whether it is begging or soliciting, it works; and the oppositions are not good enough to stop them from getting the money they want.
SiS
Tell me my friend, what does the right wing help Cambodia sofar? And what can the right wing expect to help Cambodia in the future? Are you ready to choose clean-hand members of Council of Ministers for nomination after 2008 general election? Would you mind telling me, who are they please? I wish vote for the right wing, but let me see the list first who are they? How nice they are? Do they have their own settles or cars yet? What's their job backgrownds? What's their constibution the societies, hmantarians, and human beings?
THE ONE THAT REAL DESTROY CAMBODIA, IS NOT THE RIGHT WING OR LEFT WING, IS THE STUPID PERSON WHO COLLORED PEOPLE AND OBSERVE NOT THING AROUND THE GLOB!
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