China welcomes investment, tech support for Greater Mekong Subregion [-Really??? China welcomes encroachment on its turf?]

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes relevant countries to provide investment and technology support for nations in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Tuesday.

Liu made the remarks at a regular press briefing while commenting on the outcome of the 4th Mekong-Japan Summit, which was held in Tokyo from April 20-22.

He said China is open to cooperations between the GMS and nations outside the Mekong Delta as a means to boost comprehensive economic and social development in the GMS.

Japan Pledges $7.4 Billion in Aid to Mekong Region

Japan's Ambassador to Burma Takashi Saito, seated left, and Burma's Ambassador to Japan Khin Maung Ting sign documents on their accord on the sidelines of the Mekong-Japan Summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo, April 21, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Monday, 23 April 2012
VOA News | Washington, DC

Japan has pledged $7.4 billion in development aid to five Southeast Asia nations in an effort to promote cooperation with countries in the Mekong region.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced the pledge at a Japan-Mekong summit in Tokyo on Saturday, after meeting with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.

He said the stability and development of East Asia is not possible without the stability and development of the Mekong region.

Cambodia vows investment upgrade [-How much of the Japanese aid will be pocketed by Hun Xen and his cronies?]

Monday, April 23, 2012
Kyodo

Cambodian President Hun Sen vowed Saturday to improve investment conditions in his country on the heels of a recent surge in Japanese business there, the Foreign Ministry said of his talks with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

In the talks, Japan agreed to offer Cambodia up to ¥1.51 billion in projects to rebuild its roads and drainage system after flooding in September wrought major damage, the ministry said.

In praising the recent jump in investment, Noda expressed hope that Cambodia will also create an environment attractive to Japanese companies, it said.

Noda said the expected completion of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, a project funded by Japan's official development assistance, will help promote Japanese investment there.

Japan rewards democratic reform: a lesson for Hun Xen?

Japan to write off Myanmar debt in thumbs-up for reform

Sat Apr 21, 2012

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will write off billions of dollars in debt owed by Myanmar and restart development loans, the leaders of the two countries said on Saturday, in a further move to end the Southeast Asian nation's isolation and strengthen its nascent democracy.

The agreement to waive 303.5 billion yen ($3.72 billion) debt and overdue charges was reached during President Thein Sein's visit to Tokyo, the first by a Myanmar head of state in nearly three decades, signaling its steady return to the international fold after decades of brutal military rule.

"In order to support Myanmar's efforts for reforms in various areas towards its democratization, national reconciliation and sustainable development, Japan will extend economic cooperation ... while continuously observing the progress of these efforts ...," Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a statement.

Ffishing on the Mekong river in Phnom Penh

A man pulls a fishing net from the Mekong river in Phnom Penh April 21, 2012. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Saturday, Tokyo will provide 600 billion yen ($7.35 billion) in official development aid to Mekong region countries in three years from April 2013, to help improve the region's infrastructure and boost the area's economy. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

Japan Pledges $7.4 Billion in Aid to Mekong Region

Japan's Ambassador to Burma Takashi Saito, seated left, and Burma's Ambassador to Japan Khin Maung Ting sign documents on their accord on the sidelines of the Mekong-Japan Summit at the State Guest House in Tokyo, April 21, 2012. (Photo: AP)

April 21, 2012
VOA News

Japan has pledged $7.4 billion in development aid to five Southeast Asia nations in an effort to promote cooperation with countries in the Mekong region.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced the pledge at a Japan-Mekong summit in Tokyo on Saturday, after meeting with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam.

He said the stability and development of East Asia is not possible without the stability and development of the Mekong region.

China has also tried to gain influence in the region by pouring aid and investment into Mekong countries.

$2.9 million for the ECCClown (Icky Clown) to perpetuate the travesty of justice

Khmer Rouge tribunal to get extra $2.9 million as centerpiece trial begins

Friday, Nov. 25, 2011
Kyodo

PHNOM PENH — The government has announced it will provide an additional $2.925 million to a U.N.-backed tribunal that is trying Khmer Rouge leaders accused of the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians in the 1970s.

"The government decided, despite its financial difficulties, to support the Khmer Rouge tribunal at an important juncture," as its most important case — involving three senior Khmer Rouge leaders — started Monday and the ruling on an appeal in another case will be handed down Feb. 3, the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh said.

Japan is the single largest donor to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, as the tribunal is formally known, and has accounted for nearly half the total pledges and donations to date.

Lower Mekong Nations, Donors To Strengthen Cooperation

7/25/2011

(RTTNews) - The Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Lower Mekong has agreed on the importance of close cooperation among donors and the lower Mekong countries to enhance effectiveness, mobilize resources, and promote synergy of regional assistance programs aimed at supporting inclusive, sustainable, and environmentally-responsible growth.

Foreign Ministers and senior representatives of Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Viet Nam, European Union, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank met in the Indonesian resort island of Bali at the weekend for the first Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting.

They noted the importance of effectively managing sustainable and equitable development in the lower Mekong sub-region. They discussed challenges affecting the Mekong River and the region in a variety of sectors, including the environment, public health, social development, livelihood, food security, education, and infrastructure. They also affirmed the importance of conducting assistance programs in the Mekong region in a transparent manner.

Japan Pledges Over US$5 Billion To Mekong Nations

VIENTIANE (Laos), July 25 (Bernama)-- Japan pledged to provide 500 billion JPY (over US$5 billion) to Mekong nations over three years in implementing projects in all fields within the Mekong-Japan cooperation framework, Lao news agency (KPL), reported.

This announcement was made at the 4 th Meeting of Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers in Bali, Indonesia on July 21.

At the meeting, Japan also pledged to give about US$20 million to assist the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle.

Mekong and Japanese FMs discussed a plan to boost cooperation between the two sides and some regional and international issues of mutual concerns.

Decrease in Japan Aid ‘May Be Inevitable’: Ambassador

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Wednesday, 20 April 2011

“That’s why we have urged the government to fight against corruption and to take care of state revenue, to save our resources for development.”

Japan’s ambassador to Cambodia warned on Wednesday that aid to Cambodia in the future will likely decrease as a result of the 2010 tsunami.

Japan has had to revise its fiscal budget in the wake of the calamity, Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki told VOA Khmer at the side of a donor meeting in Phnom Penh Wednesday.

“It may be inevitable,” he said.

Japan generally provides more than $100 million each year to Cambodia on a range of projects, but the country is still grappling with the enormity of the March earthquake and tsunami, which killed 25,000 people and displaced nearly half a million more.

Sinatoons - Speechless

Opposition Worries Japan Disaster Could Hurt Aid Money

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Wednesday, 16 March 2011

“In following years, I am sure it will be cut.”

Opposition leaders say Japan’s earthquake and tsunami woes will affect aid coming to Cambodia in future years, underscoring the importance of economic independence.

The Japanese government said this week the disaster would not affect its aid to Cambodia, signing a $94 million aid package on Tuesday.

However, following the devastating tsunami in Japan on Friday, opposition officials said Tuesday they were concerned one of Cambodia’s largest donors will not be able to sustain its level of aid.

“We face difficulties exporting our goods abroad,” opposition leader Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer. “And countries that usually give much aid to this country, when they face a problem like Japan is today, they clearly reduce their assistance to us.”

Cambodia Considers Repercussions of Japan Disaster

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 14 March 2011

“We cannot predict what will happen to the upcoming Japanese aid for Cambodia.”

As Japan continued to assess the damage from a major earthquake and tsunami on Monday, Cambodian officials and development workers considered the implications here, where Japan is a major donor.

Speaking at a graduate ceremony at the Royal University of Law and Economics, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the Japanese government was set to sign a large aid package on Tuesday. But he warned that the devastation from the disaster could have knock-on effects for Cambodian development.

“The destruction in Japan was the largest, and it will affect the Japanese economy, as well as Japan’s international obligations and implementation [of projects] overseas, including us,” he said.

The severe earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan’s northeast coast on Friday, leveling entire villages and likely killing many thousands, though the official death toll and economic damage is so far unknown.

Japan To Provide US$94 Million To Cambodia Despite Quake Impact

PHNOM PENH, March 15 (Bernama) -- The government of Japan on Tuesday will provide a grant aid of US$94 million to Cambodia for social and economic development, though latter was severely hit by the massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

The exchange of notes for the grant was signed between Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Masafumi Kuroki, Japanese ambassador to Cambodia, presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

According to the media release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the aid will be used to implement three projects namely the flood and drainage improvement in Phnom Penh (US$45 million), replacement and expansion of water distribution system in provincial capitals (US$33.66 million) and improvement of equipment for demining activities (US$15.83 million), respectively.

The Friday's catastrophic earthquake in Japan, measuring 9.0 magnitudes on the Richter scale, has claimed 2,414 lives and left 3,118 others missing in Japan by 8:00 a.m. local time, said the Japanese National Police Agency.

Tsunami in Japan: Drowning of aid for Hun Xen

Massive earthquake in Japan harms its economy, aid abroad: Cambodia PM

March 14, 2011
Xinhua

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday the massive earthquake in Japan on March 11 will not only damage Japanese economy, but also will affect Japanese assistance overseas.

"The destruction by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan were the worst and caused hugely losses both human lives and properties," he made the remarks during a graduation ceremony for students at the Royal University of Law and Economics.

"The natural disaster will impact both Japanese economy and Japan's internationally obligatory implementation abroad including Cambodia."

Work starts on new Cambodia bridge

Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) Construction on a third bridge in Cambodia to be built with official development assistance began Saturday on a route crossing the Mekong River to Vietnam.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, said the planned 2,240-meter bridge will be the longest and "most beautiful" in the country.

The structure, 37.5 meters above the river at its highest point, will provide a direct transportation link to Vietnam.

The new bridge is at the Neak Loeung River Crossing, 56 km southeast of Phnom Penh. Construction is expected to end in February 2015.

Cambodia builds bridge to link ASEAN highway

February 13, 2011

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) - The construction of Neak Loeung Bridge, a part of ASEAN's highway, will play a vital role in boosting the development of Cambodian and regional economy, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday during a ground breaking ceremony for the bridge construction.

The Neak Loeung Bridge across the Mekong River along the National Road No. 1 will link the western part of Kandal province and the eastern part of Prey Veng province to Vietnam.

The bridge will be the biggest and longest one in Cambodia. It will be 13.5 meters wide and 2,200 meters long, and as high as 37 meters from the water surface, according to the master-plan.

The Neak Loeung Bridge, being constructed by contractor Sumitomo Mitsu Construction of Japan, will be completed by 2015. The cost was estimated at $131 million under the grant aid from Japan.

Construction starts on 3rd Japan-donated bridge in Cambodia [-Neak Loeung Bridge]

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 12 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Construction on a third bridge in Cambodia to be built with Japanese economic assistance began Saturday on a route crossing the Mekong River to Vietnam.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the bridge, at 2,240 meters, will be the longest and "most beautiful" in the country.

The structure, 37.5 meters above the river at its highest point, will provide a direct transportation link to Vietnam.

The new bridge is at the Neak Loeung River Crossing, 56 kilometers southeast of Phnom Penh. Construction is expected to take until February 2015.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Yutaka Banno, Japan's secretary of state for foreign affairs, said, "This bridge will not only link the two sides of the river, but link all countries in the region, tying Cambodia today to the future, linking Japan to Cambodia and this bridge will become a popular symbolic tie for our two countries."

Cambodia welcomes aid from Japan and China, some are wary

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 30 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Cambodia, one of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia, extends a welcoming hand to economic aid from Japan and China but some analysts in the country are wary of the competitive intent of the nation's two largest aid donors.

Officially, the government hails the two countries as champions of Cambodia's rehabilitation and development through their economic aid program.

Japan has provided about $130 million a year to Cambodia since the early 1990s mostly in the form of grant aid, while China channels its assistance largely through loans.

For years, however, some Cambodians and observers have been curious about the drive behind the Japanese and Chinese aid programs, as neither country imposes preconditions, a sharp contrast with economic aid from the United States and other Western powers that is often tied to human rights and democracy in the recipient countries.

Japan provides $11.7 million more for Khmer Rouge trials

Phnom Penh, Jan 29 (Kyodo) The Japanese governmentannounced that it decided to provide a further USD 11.7million to the UN-assisted tribunal set up to try former KhmerRouge leaders.

The Japanese Embassy yesterday said that USD 8.8 millionis for the international component and USD 2.9 million is forthe national component of the Extraordinary Chambers in theCourts of Cambodia, as the tribunal is formally known.

"This contribution will cover 25 percent of the ECCC's operational cost throughout the year 2011," it said in astatement.

The ECCC, which has spent more than80 million sincebeing set up in 2005 though it has so far convicted only oneKhmer Rouge figure, has a budget of USD 87.1 million for2010-2011.