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| Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai prime minister, center, sits together with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, left, as Thaksin gives a lecture to Cambodian economists in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. (Photo: AP) |
Monday, 19 September 2011Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
“We can suppose that in such a speech [Thaksin] is flattering us to gain a benefit from us.”
Thailand’s exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Monday he saw potential in Cambodia’s economic growth, which has buoyed in 2011 following recovery with garments and tourism.
Thaksin said in a lecture at the Asian Economic Forum, held at the Council of Ministers’ building, that Cambodia had shown strong growth compared to the region.
His talk at the forum was part of a nearly weeklong trip, which included a meetings with Prime Minister Hun Sen, economists and other economic officials on Saturday.
Thaksin, who was ousted from Thailand in a bloodless coup in 2006, recommended Cambodia bolster state spending on infrastructure and education, as well as modernizing its financial system.
The Asian Development Bank said last week Cambodia’s growth rate will likely reach 6.8 percent this year.
Chan Sophal, president of the Cambodian Economic Association, said Cambodia has potential for even more growth, perhaps 10 percent, but that the country needs to “work hard.”
“The leaders of the Kingdom of Cambodia will be encouraged by Thaksin’s speech,” he said.
However, Son Chhay, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said Monday that Cambodia, which exports about $2 billion in goods abroad, only exports only $50 million in goods to Thailand, with which it has a large deficit.
“Be careful what Thai political veterans say about Cambodia’s economic situation,” he said. “We can suppose that in such a speech [Thaksin] is flattering us to gain a benefit from us.”
Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, said Thaksin may also be focused on developing petroleum resources on the coast. Thaksin’s speech was flattering of Cambodia, Kem Sokha said, “to provide opportunity for him.”
6 comments:
Soc Anh sold or Lease Preah Vihear for 99 years to Thai's Corporation Shinawatra Ltd.
I don't think we should even try to build tie with Thailand. Tie should be natural flow, not trying especially with Thailand who we have so much bitterness with. It is obvious that Cambodia and Thailand do not trust each other even we try. It is only on the surface. Cambodia should just stay clear from Thailand and just focus on rebuilding our homeland. We can't be partners when we have no trust for each other. It is a waste of resource and energy. It is like a husband and wife or a business partners, if we have no trust for each other; there should not be a relationship.
99 years policy seem to work for the Cambodian high ranking official, but destroy the country bring more suffering to the poor Cambodians. It is “crueler than the Pol Pot regime.”
I hope the Cambodians people stand up and stop this madness that destroyed our beloved country.
Only a hand full of rich and high ranking official (Hon Xen, Xox Ahn and their gangs) that benefit from this.
This is the way Hon Xen try to make a quick money by destroyed the country. Next time you remember who you are voting for??
Vote to destroyed your country or vote to improve the lives of the people without destroyed the country???
Only you yourselves can help your own country. CPP destroyed the country other parties might save the country from the destruction. 99 years policy should be scrap and new policy should be implemented to replace the policy that destroyed our country.
99 years policy = Cambodia for sale policy.
This policy should be scrap at once.
god bless cambodia always.
cambodia need to expand all our international airports to length of 4000 meters by 60 meters width. i'm sick and tired of seeing cambodia have small airports all the time! also, start building lightrail or metro rail in phnom penh and more railway tracks across cambodia. yes, infrastructure is one of the key to develop cambodia like the rest of the world, really! listen to mr. thaksin, he's right for seeing cambodia from a foreigner's perspective. cambodia lacks many thing we all taken for granted all over the world, so, it is time for cambodia to focus on modernizing and developing our country. invite the developing world to come train and educate and invest and develop cambodia, please! we want more skyscrapers, more modern bridge, bigger airports, modern infrastructure, etc, etc, really! god bless cambodia.
also, modernize the country sanitation system like clean waters, more electricity, use more modern machinery for farming, etc, you know.
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