China, Cambodia pledge to further enhance ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Cambodian leaders on Wednesday pledged to further enhance bilateral ties, two days after the two countries agreed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

"The establishment of this strategic partnership brings new opportunities for the development of bilateral ties," Chinese President Hu Jintao said when meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday afternoon in the Great Hall of the People.

China will maintain friendly exchanges with Cambodia at all levels, strengthen mutual support on major issues of concern, and deepen exchanges on experiences in managing state affairs, Hu said.

The president said the Chinese government and people value the traditional friendship with Cambodia, and will always support Cambodia to take its own development path.

Hu added that China will expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, finance, infrastructure construction, agriculture and energy, increase bilateral trade, enhance cultural, technological and youth exchanges, and maintain the two countries' coordination on regional and international affairs.

Hu also called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation in areas such as coping with the international financial crisis, disaster prevention and relief and combating cross-border crimes.

Hun Sen said Cambodia-China relations have entered a new stage after the two countries agreed to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

He said Cambodia will abide by the one-China policy and work with China to further promote bilateral ties.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo also met with Hun Sen Wednesday. During the meeting, Wu pledged to bolster exchanges and cooperation between the two states' legislative bodies.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, hailed the political, economic and cultural ties between China and Cambodia, saying the establishment of the strategic partnership will yield tangible benefits for the two peoples.

Wu said the two states' legislative bodies have, in recent years, carried out substantial dialogue between their leaders, special committees and staff, which contributed to the development of bilateral ties.

Hun Sen applauded the traditional friendship and pledged to promote exchanges between the two states' legislative bodies and to enhance coordination on major issues to promote bilateral ties.

Open Letter to Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

November 08, 2010

Your Excellency Wu Bangguo

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress,

People's Republic of China

Dear Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of Khmer people everywhere, please allow me to express our utmost gratitude to the Government and the People of China for their enduring friendship and unconditional supports for Cambodia throughout past difficult years and in present days.

Over the years, China's continuous flow of generous aids to Cambodia's economy and infrastructure have been vital to Cambodia's ongoing progress and development. Thanks to China's steadfast and stalwart friendship, our small and vulnerable nation is able to survive, and grow stronger and more autonomous each day.

Growing number of Khmers at home and abroad wholeheartedly look to China as a, if not the only, dependable and long term strategic partner in the region. The geographical proximity coupled with outstanding historical relationship between our two countries inherently make China Cambodia's most trusted and valuable friend who will continue to share many common and mutual interests for years to come.

In view of reinforcing the strong tight between our two countries into the future, China’s aids to Cambodia should be directed toward long term human resource and rural social development. Particularly, China is in a unique position to put in place government exchange programs whereby Cambodian government officials can exchange their experiences with and learn from Chinese counterparts. China can also assume leading role in sponsoring educational programs for Cambodia’s youth. Last but not least, China participation in social development in the rural such as subsidizing local community schools, cultural centers, mobile medical clinics or local community radio stations will have lasting benefits.

Khmers are trustworthy and loyal people, and we will always remember those who came to our rescue during the trying times. From the bottom of our heart, Your Excellency, please accept our highest respect and utmost gratitude.

Respectfully yours,

SamlengKhmer

(for Khmer People)

Cambodia To Expand Consular Services in China

(Photo: Xinhua)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 07 May 2010

"We need more Chinese investors to invest in Cambodia to boost stronger exports."

Cambodia moved toward official diplomatic expansion into China on Friday, as the National Assembly approved a convention allowing the establishment of at least six consular offices across China.

The agreement, which is expected to spur trade, tourism and other activities, also allows China to open more consular offices outside the capital.

Cambodia currently has liaison offices in the cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Kunming and Naning. These will become consular offices, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong told the National Assembly on Friday.

The passage of the agreement follows improved relations with China in recent years, including a $1.2 billion aid package in 2009 and the announcement of $14 million in military aid this week.

When Khmers were sent to teach all things Khmer to the Chinese...

According to the Cambodian tale "Thon-Chey", the Chinese learned to make noodle from the clever Khmer Thon-Chey (albeit it could be a "tall" tale also)

Researchers discovered a group of ancient ethnic Khmers living in southern China

Tuesday, 27 April 2010
By Khmerization Source: RFA

KI-Media note: In the Cambodian tale of “Thon-Chey”, Thon-Chey’s cleverness earned him the ire of the Khmer king who exiled him to China. Upon arriving there, Thon-Chey made “num banh-chok”, the Cambodian noodle, to sell to make a living. His food was the rave among the Chinese who never ate noodle before (most likely a mockery of the Chinese by Thon-Chey’s author). One day, the Chinese emperor ordered that Thon-Chey be brought to the palace along with his “num banh-chok” so that the emperor may have a taste of it. Prior to entering the palace, Thon-Chey was told that he is not allowed to look at the face of the emperor. This order made Thon-Chey even more curious. As the Chinese emperor was eating the noodle, he had to pick it up with chopsticks, tilt his head backward to gulp the long string noodle. Thon-Chey then took the opportunity to sneak a peek at the emperor’s face, after which he spoke to himself: “Muk sdach chen doch kdet chhker, muk sdach khmer to kher penh boramey” (The face of the Chinese emperor looks like the dog’s derriere, whereas the face of the Khmer king looks like a full moon). As it turned out, the Chinese emperor overheard Thon-Chey’s comment and ordered him to be thrown in jail. The tale went on to tell Thon-Chey making Khmer kites (khleng ek) while he was in jail, and how the noise made by the kite bothered the Chinese emperor enough that he ordered Thon-Chey be released and sent back to Cambodia. It appears that the tale of Khmer people teaching the Chinese is not a tale at all, but rather a fact.

A group of Khmer cultural heritage and civilisation researchers have just discovered a group of ancient Khmers living in one region of southern China, reports Radio Free Asia.

Dr. Soum Chhum Bun, Secretary General of the Cambodian Royal Academy who is a researcher of cultural heritage and civilisation of the Asian region, has told RFA's reporter, Mr. Orm Oudom, on 26th April that researchers have discovered a group of more than 1,000 ancient ethnic Khmers living in Sisorng Phana region in southern China. He said this group of ethnic Khmers were descendants of Khmer mahouts and Khmer cooks sent by Khmer kings to help train elephants and cook Khmer food for the Chinese emperor in the 13th century which was at the end of the Angkorian era. "The Khmer king sent two Khmer families to help keep and care for the (Chinese emperor's) elephants. Later, when the Khmer king found out that emperor Ching Hong likes Khmer food, he sent another two families to cook for Emperor Ching Hong. That's why they (those ethnic Khmers) said that the four families of their ancestors came to China from Cambodia. Presently, there were about 1,000 ethnic Khmers living in their village and they can speak some ancient Khmer language which they still can remember", he said.

Dr. Soum Chhum Bun said the reason the Khmer kings sent Khmer mahouts and Khmer cooks to the Chinese imperial court in Sisorng Phana region was because at that time Cambodia had formed a very close tie with the Chinese imperial court in Sisorng Phana region due to Cambodia's long wars with the T'ai people, which presently known as Thais. Dr. Soum said the Cambodian Royal Academy will send its researchers to conduct study on this group of ancient Khmers in Sisorng Phana region very soon.

China-Cambodia Ties Grow Tighter

By Robert Carmicheal, VOA
Original report from Phnom Penh
29 March 2010

In the past five years China and Cambodia have drawn ever closer, with Beijing investing billions of dollars in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation. Cambodians see both benefits and potential risks in the relationship.

In the past five years, China has become Cambodia's most important source of foreign investment: Cambodia has approved $6 billion of Chinese investments since 2006, while China provided at least $2 billion more in grant aid and loans.

Those are big sums for Cambodia, which has a $10 billion economy.

The relationship between the two countries is nothing new. Chea Vannath, an independent analyst based in Phnom Penh, says China's influence goes back at least 1,000 years.

"So it shows a good relationship with China. Since then either during the bad time or the happy time, China and Cambodia always have - you can say - sweet and sour, or long-lasting relationship. Always," said Chea Vannath.

In recent years that relationship is one the Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has come to value highly.

He has publicly welcomed the rapid increase in Chinese investment. He also says China is his kind of friend since he says, unlike some donors to this aid-reliant nation, Beijing provides cash with no strings attached and without interfering.

Cheang Vanarith is the director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, a research body in Phnom Penh. He notes that China's financial interests in Cambodia have other benefits for Beijing.

"But probably China looks beyond economic interests toward more strategic interests in this region. So China used to be the center of the universe. China is the kind of regional hub in terms of strategic (strategy) and economic (economy). Some people call it China returning to the past," he said.

But there are concerns about China's rising influence in Cambodia. For instance, some critics, including witnesses who recently testified in the U.S. Congress, say the money China invests in Cambodia's infrastructure ends up going to state-owned Chinese companies that build the roads and hydropower dams. These contracts are not open to public scrutiny or independent oversight.

The International Monetary Fund, among others, has expressed concern about Beijing's insistence that Phnom Penh pledge to buy all of the power the hydropower dams generate for 30 years.

That could total hundreds of millions of dollars a year.The IMF says Phnom Penh must ensure it does not lock itself into huge open-ended commitments for fear that the liability could harm the fight against poverty.

Despite those concerns, Cheang Vanarith says China will continue to expand its influence in Cambodia. He says China's friendship provides Cambodia with a useful balance against countries such as Thailand, with which it has historical disputes.

He sees few risks to the relationship, and says some of the money from China's aid and investment helps anti-poverty efforts.

But human rights activists say the relationship could be too cozy. They pointed to Phnom Penh's decision last year to send 20 Uighur refugees back to China, at Beijing's request. Days later Cambodia received economic assistance deals worth $1.2 billion.

The United States and other countries sharply criticized Cambodia for deporting the Uighurs, members of a Muslim minority group in China. But Cheang Vanarith says there has been no economic backlash.

"Yes, we got strong negative reaction from the U.S. But later stage it seemed to be O.K. The bilateral relations between Cambodia and the U.S., I could feel it's on the right track - coming back," said Cheang Vanarith.

Chea Vannath, however, like many civic activists, worries about China's effect on Cambodia's environment, and the effort to improve governance and human rights protections here.

China is ranked in 79th in the most recent Transparency International corruption perception survey, out of 180 nations. She says Cambodia ought to learn the lessons of governance from nations with a better track record on democracy and human rights.

"And with the money that goes along with lack of transparency, lack of democratic governance - not just governance, but democratic governance - the participation of people into the state affairs. That concerns us. Yes, it concerns me," she said.

It appears to be less of concern to the Phnom Penh government. Just this month, China and Cambodia agreed to continue strengthening the relationship and to cooperate on projects to develop Cambodia's agriculture, tourism and communications industries.

Cambodia, China agree to deepen friendship, cooperation relations

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu (L3) meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Office of the Council of Ministers Sok An (R2) in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on March 18, 2010. Hui arrived here Wednesday for a three-day official visit. (Xinhua/Lei Bosong)

PHNOM PENH, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Chinese senior officials agreed on Thursday to further strengthen friendship and cooperation relations to bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

The common view was reached when visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Office of the Council of Ministers Sok An on Thursday.

During the meeting, Hui highly valued the relations between China and Cambodia, saying that China and Cambodia "are good neighbors, good friends and good partners." He said that the bilateral relations between China and Cambodia "serve as a model for state-to-state relations."

In recent years, the bilateral relations have maintained sound development momentum, Hui said, adding that China and Cambodia have kept close high-level exchanges, deepened economic and trade cooperation and maintained close coordination and cooperation on major international and regional affairs.

Moreover, Hui emphasized that the Chinese side attaches great importance to the Cambodian relations and is willing to make joint efforts with Cambodia to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and enrich bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership in order to promote such relations to a new higher and depth level

Sok An fully agreed with Hui's positive evaluation of Sino-Cambodian relations. He thanked China for its long-term support and assistance to Cambodia's economic and social development, saying "Cambodia is willing to work with China to strengthen the cooperation and exchanges in various fields in an effort to promote bilateral relations to a higher level."

During the meeting, the two sides have an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation in agriculture, tourism, telecommunications, disaster prevention and reduction, and reached broad consensus.

The two sides also agreed to work together to smoothly implement and promote the cooperation projects, and actively explore new cooperation fields and mutual benefit and win-win cooperation model so as to bring greater benefits to the people in both countries.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Hui Liangyu held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly. After the meeting. Hui, together with Sok An and Yim Chhay Ly, attended the signing ceremony of agriculture, communications cooperation agreements.

Hui Liangyu will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday afternoon.

Hui, arrived in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, began his three-day official visit at the invitation of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Office of the Council of Ministers Sok An.

Cambodia is the first leg of Hui's five-nation visit which will also take him to the Laos, Palestine, Israel and India.

Senior Chinese Official Arrives for Trade Talks

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
17 March 2010

Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangyu arrived in Cambodia Wednesday to hold trade talks with Cambodian leaders.

The two countries maintain cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges, and close coordination on international and regional affairs, according to officials.

In a three-day visit, Hui Liangyu is expected to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen, Council Minister Sok An and Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chayly.

He will sign agreements on agriculture and telecommunications, including a joint venture between China’s Hua Wei and Cambodia’s Mobitel, according to Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers.

“Hun Sen has always encouraged Chinese investors to Cambodia as well as providing opportunities of technical change and the increase of investment services for Cambodian laborers,” he said.

Hui Liangyu’s arrival comes just months after the December visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, during which China pledged $1.2 billion in assistance.

China invested more than $6.5 billion in Cambodia from 1994 to 2009, according to government figures. China’s investment of $4.3 billion in investment in 2008 comprised 40 percent of total foreign investment.

New Ambassador to Cambodia presents letter of credence to Cambodian leader

March 15, 2010
Xinhua

Chinese new Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue (R) presents the letter of credence to Chea Sim, acting head of state of Cambodia and president of the Senate, in Phnom Penh March 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Lei Baisong)
Newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue (L) and Cambodian President of Senate Chea Sim pose for a photo in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 15, 2010. Pan handed over the letter of credence to Chea Sim Monday. (Xinhua/Lei Baisong)

Chinese vice premier visits Cambodia

March 17, 2010
Xinhua

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu arrived here on Wednesday evening to start his three-day official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Office of the Council of Ministers Sok An.

Cambodian senior officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Office of the Council of Ministers as well as Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue met Hui Liangyu and the Chinese delegation at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

During his stay here, Hui will have meetings with Sok An and Prime Minister Hun Sen. The meetings will focus on enhancing the traditional friendship relationships and cooperation between the two countries on various fields.

Meanwhile, both sides will sign some cooperation documents.

Cambodia is the first leg of Hui's five-nation visit which will also take him to the Laos, Palestine, Israel and India.

Chinese president meets Cambodian king

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 11, 2008. Norodom Sihamoni attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 8. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Monday with King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 8.

Hu first thanked the Cambodian King for his country's support to the Beijing Olympic Games.

"The friendly relationship between China and Cambodia is exemplary for countries of different social systems which want to treat each other equally and carry out sincere cooperation," Hu told the Cambodian guest during the meeting.

The two countries are not only good neighbors that coexist in peace and harmony, but also good friends with mutual trust, good brothers sharing happiness and woe, and good partners working together for a win-win end, said the Chinese president.

The Chinese government and people are ready to work with their Cambodian counterparts to enhance friendly exchanges, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, and promote common development, said Hu, adding that China highly appreciates the Cambodian Royal Family's "outstanding contribution" to the development of Sino-Cambodian relations.

King Sihamoni responded that the Cambodia-China friendship was forged and developed through the efforts of several generations of leaders of both countries.

He said the Cambodian Royal Family, government and people appreciate the long-time support and assistance from China and are dedicated to the development of good-neighborly friendship and cooperation with China.

Hor Nam Hong hails Cambodia-China ties [-Wasn't it China which bankrolled the Khmer Rouge also?]

Chinese Premier Chou En Lai (Front left) with then Prince Norodom Sihanouk

Cambodian FM hails Cambodia-China ties

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodia-China relations have been increasingly strengthened and promoted both in scope and depth, bringing greater benefit to both peoples, said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong in a recent written interview with Xinhua.

During the past 50 years, Cambodian former king Norodom Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, together with successive leaders of China, have nurtured very close friendship and fruitful multi-faceted cooperation in many fields between the two countries, he said.

By celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties of the two countries, which falls on July 19 this year, both countries aim to enhance their traditional bonds of amity and good collaboration, he said.

To achieve the goal, a number of exchange programs are being organized in various fields such as economy, culture, education and tourism, he said.

It is expected that these programs will result in greater understanding and closer friendship between the peoples in the two countries, increasing exchange of tourists, expanding trade and investment and scoring more dynamic economic cooperation, he added.

Hor Namhong's written interview was done in the eve of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's visit to the kingdom on Wednesday.

Cambodia established diplomatic ties with China on July 19, 1958.