Vong Sokheng and Don Weinland 0Share
The Phnom Penh Post
CAMBODIA agreed to acquire Chinese-made Z-9 helicopters for US$195 million in one of 26 memorandums of understanding agreed by the two countries on Saturday.
Cooperation was pledged in sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture and road construction, as well as defence spending and aid. The two-day meeting also saw deals inked involving Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group and the Chinese backers of the controversial Boeung Kak lake development.
Led by Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang, the Chinese delegation met with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday.
“[Hun Sen and Zhou] have exchanged views on this new era of cooperation between Cambodia and China,” Eang Sophalleth, Hun Sen’s spokesman, said at a press conference following the closed-door meeting.
Hun Sen reiterated the Cambodian government’s political will to continue backing the One-China’s Policy, or China’s claim to sovereignty over Taiwan and other disputed regions, Eang Sophalleth said.
“The Chinese government needs to trust in Cambodia’s support of the One-China Policy, and Cambodia will stay resolute on this,” Eang Sophalleth quoted Hun Sen as saying during the meeting.
Increased cooperation has been lauded by Cambodian officials and some investment groups, but large-scale investments from China have also raised concerns about the mainland’s rising influence in the Kingdom.
“The more and more Chinese exercise influence in Cambodia, the more Cambodia will become subservient to China,” Lao Mong Hay, a political analyst, said yesterday.
While China’s interest in regional trade and Cambodian resources are substantial, its primary objective is strategic, Lao Mong Hay said. With disputes raging between China and Vietnamover oil-rich territory in the South China Sea, Beijing sees Cambodia as a “security belt” in the region, he said.
The deals signed at the conference covered a broad range of sectors. The heliocopter MoU, which was not discussed at the press conference, was signed by Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon and China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Chen Jian.
Tycoon Lao Meng Khin signed two MoUs on mining and power plant projects with Chinese construction company Erdos Hongjun Investment Company. The two projects are worth roughly $2 billion and are set to break ground in the first quarter of next year, according to documents from China’s National Development and Reform Commission. The Chinese firm and Lao Meng Khin have previously been tied to the controversial Boeung Kak lake housing project in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian mobile operator CamGSM also signed an agreement to co-ordinate with Chinese telecommunications company Huawei in building Cambodia’s first satellite, according to notes from the meeting.
Royal Group chairman and chief executive Kith Meng told the Post yesterday the project was on track to launch in 2013 and would cost as much as $350 million.
Chinese companies have also shown interest in Cambodia’s agricultural produce, signing four agreements aimed at rice exports to the People’s Republic.
Eang Sophalleth said on Saturday Prime Minister Hun Sen had appealed to the Chinese delegation to increase its investments in the Cambodian agricultural industry.
In August last year, Hun Sen set a target of one million tonnes of milled-rice exports by 2015.
“The Chinese president and prime minister have made it an incentive to support Cambodia in all fields of national development. This delegat-ion's visit to Cambodia is a response to Cambodia's desire to boost the exportation of rice to China,” Eang Sophalleth said.
Chinese firms also signed deals on irrigation development and building roads in the Kingdom.
Experts said yesterday they supported Chinese investment in Cambodia, provided it was properly monitored.
Leopard Capital managing partner Scott Lewis said Chinese investment was a fundamental building block in Cambodia's development and should be applauded.
Development and investment by Chinese companies, however, should not come at the expense of environmental destruction and should be monitored, he said.
“These investments need to be welcomed, but they also need to be regulated,” Lewis said.
18 comments:
When the dispute in South China sea had boiled up between China and Vietnam, SRP had issued a statement to condemn Vietnam and strongely supported China, but Why Senior Communist Party of China visited in Cambodia, they meet only with Hun Sen, but not with SRP leader? This means China doesn't appreciate to SRP or China thinks that SRP is useless political party?
to 4:03 PM
I think, China does not want to upset the prime minister.
And now it is not the time for China to deal openly with SRP. But I believe, it is good for SRP and China to keep a communication line open so that any misunderstanding between the two can be avoided.
It's a good idea for China to communicate with all political parties of Cambodia and the other way around too.
It sounds so beautiful that Cambodia to have the unit of Z-9 helicopters fight.
It is questionable whether this guy really ready fodder for combat or just for rocket fodder? Compared to Apache AH-64 Apache AH-64 Longbow or is incomparable. With $ 7.5 million per unit, it is also not so cheap. When I was as MR Hun Sen adviser, I would recommend him KA-52 from Russia, because this type with Apache AH-64 ($ 18-20 million per Unit whit) minsestens can compare.
to 4:03 PM and 5:48 PM,
We Khmers have to learn that China have never played ONLY one card in the foreign policy, look back to Pol Pot regime, at that time it had more than 6000 chinesse experts in Kampuchea.After end Pol Pot and Killing Fields, China said we don't know about this, and look to Libyan Spring revolution, China has always supported Gaddafi, not NTC at all, but now China and Russia turn their head to support revolution army. Why? When China do't support them, then become no oil from Libya. How many Gaddafi killed libyan innocent people, China has never interested. In fact, China is interested Only Business. Is all that true?
The choper is not bad..coz it is licensed by the French company, who produce the Dauphin..The choper can be equipped with Torpedoes which is useful to counter the Thai sub-marine and war vessel. Though the quality is not comparable with the Apache, but it requires less maintenance and also it is easy to find the spare parts..since u can get from French or China..
It is a good buy anyway..but the price might be inflated in order to get more commission money..We all know it is common in our country..lolz..No money, no work..
8:16PM,
Pol Pot was not responsible for the Killing field. It was yuon agents infiltratiing in the KR who sabotaged the KR regime and did all the killing.
Yuons admitted that they were the master or creator of Khmer Rouge. That is so true!
No government officials in any country allowed to officially meet the opposition parties unless it's the political moves.
Very good! I want cambodia to have these kind of choppers better than nothing..? We need to upgrade our military little by little, don't under estimante our neighbors again...there's no such thing friendly neighbours? Freindly my Ass!
Cambodia will become China new Island(Hainan-Cambodia)
Be friend with China, you still have a country; be friend with yuons, you'll have no country!
10:00 PM,
"
Be friend with China, you still have a country; be friend with yuons, you'll have no country!"
I don't against with China,who are living in Cambodia now, Viet or China?
Wealth of Cambodia is divided between China and Vietnam.
Sihamoni and Hun Sen are both puppets of the two big countries, and sign all kinds of contracts (Cambodia is on sale) and agreements with China and Vietnam.
It's the end of the Khmer country.
I agreed! Something is better than nothing.
Hun Sen should ask the Chinese to sell him Z-9 helicopters last for 5 years lifespan and don't need to have maintianed schedules. Just throw away and order a new one.
Cambodian Army don't use to maintain the component parts. 250 truck and SUVs from china in 2010, 15% of them are now sitting in warehouse for spare-parts.
my god, i didn't know china could build so many helicopters and airplanes, etc! no wonder cambodia likes china a lot! and we also like america too, you know!
2:10 AM,
my god, i didn't know china could build so many helicopters and airplanes, etc! no wonder cambodia likes china a lot! and we also like america too, you know!
############
Why you can compare Cambodia with USA. You are realy absurd, Please go to University first before you posted here OK!
shut up, i like the helicopters! god bless cambodia.
So far, I like this message board for today because so much excitement about Chinese Z-9 military helicopter sell to Cambodia under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen. I see all sort of excitement and nationalistic. That's great. That's a good thing for all Khmer. I hate to see too many boring criticism against the government for all sort of little thing. Let's keep it up this way for the country to become stronger than our jealous neighbors, especially Mr. Thailand military who must be so pissing off right not at China:))
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