Cambodian PM: China, India play major roles in world economy [-Hun Xen butter up China?]

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that China and India have played major roles in global economy.

Delivering a speech to students in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said while the global economic crisis has occurred since 2008 and continued to date, China and India have helped in recovery.

"At this present, Euro currency is in trouble, however, it is fortunate that the economic growth in China and India have helped the world economy," he said.

The premier added that the two giant populated countries which combine about 2.5 billion populations are working hard on their economic growth.

China, he said, was not only playing important role in the current crisis, but also during the 1997 economic crisis.

And while in the past, Asian economy was relying on the United States and Europe, the situation is now changed, he said.

"In the past, there were much dependence, but now the world is inter-complimentary" Hun Sen said, citing the three world's blocs as Asia, the United States, and Europe.

While admiring China and India on their economic growth and their contribution to the global economic recovery, Hun Sen told his government members to step up efforts in reform to catch the world markets.

"Cambodia is also needed to reform in marketing. We were in the past targeting the outside world by eying the United States and Europe, but now we have to maintain and widen these old markets while at the same time to seek new markets in Asia or even to Africa," he said.

Hun Sen has repeatedly admired China for helping Cambodia in both soft and hard assistance, especially, in infrastructure that includes roads, bridges and power supplies as well as in mass investments.