China, Cambodia sign Consular Treaty to further strengthen cooperation ties

February 25, 2010
Xinhua

China and Cambodia on Thursday signed here the Consular Treaty, aimed to further strengthen the cooperation relations between the two friendly countries.

Long Visalo, secretary of state of Cambodia's Foreign Ministry and Zhang Jinfeng, Chinese ambassador to the Kingdom, signed the treaty on behalf of their respective countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and other government officials presented at the signing ceremony.

"Along with all-round development of the friendship relations between our two countries, personnel exchanges between the two countries are also increasing," Long Visalo said, and expressed his believe that the Consular Treaty will effectively protect the legitimate interest of citizens of the two countries.

Zhang Jinfeng said that China and Cambodia are good neighbors and have a good cooperation on many fields including consular, such as jointly combat illegal immigrant and transnational crimes.

She said that the Consular Treaty has established the framework of consular cooperation between the two countries, provided a legal basis for solving the problems that may arise in the consular affairs and also defined the responsibilities and obligations of both sides. She believed that the treaty will help promote the further development of bilateral consular relations.

Zhang also hoped that the two sides will exchange instruments of ratification as soon as possible, so that the treaty could come into effect as soon as possible.

At present, Cambodia has established six Consulate Generals in China, including China's Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming, Chongqing and Nanning, while China has not yet set up the consulate in Cambodia.

Chinese Vice President meets Cambodian King on relations

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (L) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Dec. 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhanchang)
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R) meets with visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Dec. 22, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhanchang)

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni here on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations.

Xi said China attached great importance to bilateral relations with Cambodia and was willing to enhance cooperation with the country, in a bid to push the Sino-Cambodia comprehensive cooperative partnership forward.

Cambodia had always firmly supported China on issues relating to its core and major interests, and was a good neighbor, friend and partner to China, Xi said.

It was the Chinese and Cambodian peoples' wish to further cement and develop the friendly cooperative relations, which served the fundamental interests of both countries, and was conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity, Xi noted.

Sihamoni said China and Cambodia currently enjoyed a good relationship and had close cooperation in many fields. He believed Xi's visit would further promote friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

The Cambodian king thanked China for its long-term help to his country, and spoke highly of China's achievements on both domestic and international issues.

Cambodia was willing to further develop the unity and friendship with China, and to see friendship growing between the two peoples.

Xi also attended the opening ceremony of the Confucius Institute in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

Cambodia is the last leg of Xi's four-nation tour, which has also taken him to Japan, South Korea and Myanmar.

Cambodia's deportation of Uighurs is blatant hypocrisy

December 23, 2009
The Nation

After refusing to extradite a wanted fugitive back to Thailand, Hun Sen gladly sends asylum seekers back to China to face trial

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was quick to send back a group of 20 Uighur asylum seekers who have been staying in Cambodia waiting for the approval of the UN High Commission for Refugees. The Cambodian authorities said that they entered the country illegally, so they had to be deported back to China according to domestic laws. The United Nations, the United States, the European Union as well as international humanitarian organisations have urged the Cambodian government not to do so. Unfortunately, their plea fell on deaf ears - Hun Sen's.

It is hoped that Thailand will not embrace the selfishness and short-sightedness of Phnom Penh when it comes to the handling of Lao Hmong refugees. Many have been given the UN's People of Concern (POC) status because it is feared the Vientiane government will prosecute them if they are returned. Moreover, said one senior American official, there is growing concern in the US about the issue of forced repatriation of Lao Hmong refugees by the Thai government.

The US is also inquiring about 4,200 Lao Hmong in Petchabun living under the watchful eye of the military-run Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc), as well as 158 Hmong in Nong Khai with POC status.

It would be a grave mistake for Thailand to forcibly repatriate people who merit protection. If not for the sake of human rights, Thailand needs to think about its standing in the international community.

Besides the moral aspect of the decision, Thailand should also take into consideration the long history of working relations with the US over refugee issues. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent over the past few decades to resettle hundreds of thousands of refugees who have come through Thailand to resettle in the US. This should count for something.

The government has been sending out conflicting signals when it comes to the issue of Hmong refugees. But the international community can do its part, too, by stating clearly how many Hmong refugees they are willing to receive. A clearer policy could help move the issue towards some sort of solution.

China, on the other hand, has handed down 17 death sentences to Uighurs for their role in the July violence in the far-western Xinjiang province between local Uighurs and migrant Han Chinese. Some countries including the US have refused to send back Uighurs released from Guantanamo Bay detention camp for fear that they will suffer similar retribution.

The controversial decision by Hun Sen came ahead of the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jin-ping to Phnom Penh on Monday. The two countries signed 14 bilateral agreements worth more than US$1.2 billion (Bt40 billion) in aid and loans to Cambodia. In the past decade, China has emerged as Cambodia's largest donor. In the past, Cambodia relied on a consortium of assistance from the international community, which imposed very strict conditions. Beijing's aid has no strings attached.

In less than a decade, Beijing has been able to turn the anti-Chinese and anti-Khmer Rouge Phnom Penh government into a close friend, after nearly two decades of adversarial relations. Hun Sen has been behind the U-turn, switching to China after reducing investment from Taiwan, which was present in Cambodia in the early 1990s.

These days, Chinese entrepreneurs and all things Chinese are common sights throughout Cambodia. The Chinese language is a popular choice among students. In the past few years, China has provided hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assistance to the once war-torn country.

Cambodia has been able to use the Chinese presence as a counter to the Vietnamese dominance that prevailed after the Vietnamese army ousted the Khmer Rouge and occupied Cambodia in 1979. But China had close relations with Cambodia under the former King Norodom Sihanouk, who now resides in Beijing. Under the king, the country maintained a policy of strict neutrality.

Relations between Cambodia and China have increasingly become closer and more strategic, with major investments pouring in from state-run Chinese companies in Cambodian real estate and arable land. More than 50,000 Chinese currently live in Phnom Penh and other parts of the country, and that figure is only likely to increase.

Chinese vice president says to promote ties with Cambodia

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L front) meets with Sok An, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of council of ministers, in Siemreab, Cambodia, Dec. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

SIEM REAP, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met here with Cambodia's deputy prime minister on Sunday and voiced China's willingness to push for a higher-level relations with the country.

During the meeting, Xi said bilateral friendship could date back to ancient times and both sides have maintained close contacts.

Describing the ties as an example for friendly cooperation, Xi said the Chinese side is willing to enhance cooperation with Cambodia in various fields and push bilateral relations to a higher level, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Xi noted that Siemp Reap province has become a sister province with Yunnan, southwest China.

He hoped that Siemp Reap, during its close contact with Yunnan, as well as other Chinese provinces, could give full play to the complementary advantages and expand exchanges and cooperation, in a bid to achieve common development.

Sok An said Xi's visit will definitely promote the current bilateral friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Cambodia is willing to enhance all-round cooperation with China to bring further benefits to the people of the two countries, Sok An said.

Chinese vice president arrives in Cambodia

2009-12-20
Associated Press

Cambodia is nominally more democratic than Myanmar, but Hun Sen is an autocratic ruler who uses his ties with China as a balance against dependency on Western nations.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived Sunday in Cambodia on the last leg of a four-nation Asian tour.

His arrival came a day after Cambodia bowed to Beijing's wishes and sent back a group of 20 Muslim asylum-seekers sought in connection with violent anti-government protests, despite concern by human rights activists that they face persecution.

Chinese officials had described the ethnic Uighurs as "criminals," and Cambodia - which maintains warm relations with Beijing - said it was expelling them because they had illegally entered the country.

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said Xi Jinping's party arrived by plane in the northwestern province of Siem Reap, home to the famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

On Monday Xi will go to the capital, Phnom Penh, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen and preside with him over the signing of 14 agreements, mostly concerning economic assistance to Cambodia, he said.

The trip is seen as significant because Xi Jinping is widely considered the leading contender to eventually succeed President Hu Jintao.

Xi's previous stops on his tour were Japan, South Korea and Myanmar. Koy Kuong said Xi and his delegation will leaves Cambodia on Tuesday.

While economic powerhouses Japan and South Korea are rivals to China, Myanmar and Cambodia are two of Southeast Asia's poorest countries, where China uses its wealth to spread its influence.

Beijing is the closest and most powerful ally of military-ruled Myanmar, and has major investments in the country, which is shunned by the West because of its failure to restore democratic rule.

Cambodia is nominally more democratic than Myanmar, but Hun Sen is an autocratic ruler who uses his ties with China as a balance against dependency on Western nations.

Who really benefit from the Cambodian-Chinese friendship: Sihanouk? Pol Pot? Hun Xen? The Cambodian people?

Cambodian-Chinese friendship benefits two peoples: Hun Sen　

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China have brought continued benefits to the two peoples, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1958 under their then leaderships -- His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, he said in a recent written interview with Xinhua.

"Until now, the Cambodian people always consider the relations a valuable legacy of the two leaders," he said, adding that "such good relations have been constantly strengthened by their succeeding leaders and their peoples."

He said the Kingdom of Cambodia have always staunchly adhered to the one-China policy and regard Taiwan and Tibet as inalienable parts of China.

Hun Sen said that over the recent years, there have been frequent exchanges of high-level visits between both countries. "And as for myself, since 2004, I, as a Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, have paid eight visits to China," he said.

"Obviously, such visits have further strengthened the friendship" between the two countries and promoted their economic, trade, culture and tourism cooperation.

He noted that China has provided huge financial assistance in the forms of grants and loans for major infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and hydro power stations.

From 1992 to June 2009, China's financial aid to Cambodia has totaled some 923 million U.S. dollars, Hun Sen said.

He also extended his congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the birth of New China which falls on Oct. 1.