Cambodia-Laos Sign Agreement on Electricity Trade and Preah Vihear-Champasak Bridge
06/12/18 05:06

Lao PDR (FN), Dec. 5 - The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of Lao PDR have signed an agreement in trading electricity power and agreed to build a bridge linking Preah Vihear province of Cambodia and Champasak province of Lao PDR to facilitate the travel of the people.

The agreement was made at a joint press conference between Cambodian Prime Minister HE and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, on Wednesday noon, during the official visit of Prime Minister HE.

"In addition to the power trading, we have agreed to link the bridge giving both people the opportunity to interact with each other,” Cambodian premier stated.

Cambodia and Laos signed four Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) in total, including Education Agreement 2019-2024; Agreement on the Cooperation on Culture and Art 2019-2021; MoU on Borrowing Elephants for Art Exhibitions and Cultural Exchanges at the Safari Zoo Phnom Penh; and MoU on Agreement on Buy and Sell High-voltage Power of 230 and 500 KV from Ban Hat, Laos Station to Stung Treng Station of Cambodia.
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Cambodia Releases Outcomes of Official Visit of Foreign Affairs to Romania
17/12/18 12:24

Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 16 - His Excellency Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, wrapped up an official visit to Romania on 12-13 December 2018 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Teodor Melescanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, according to the ministry’s press release dated Sunday.

The purpose of this visit, which took place against the backdrop of the 55th anniversary of Cambodia-Romania diplomatic relations, was to further deepen political trust and expand across-the-board cooperation between the two nations.

Read the press release below:



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Viet Nam Aids Cambodia $10 Million for a Ministry of Defense’s Building
29/12/18 15:17
Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 27 – Viet Nam aided US$10 million to build the Ministry of Defense building, Vietnamese Defense Minister, General Ngô Xuân Lịch told Cambodian Prime Minister HE in a courtesy call at the Peace Palace on Friday.

According to Eang Sophalleth, personal secretary to the Premier, General Ngô Xuân Lịch congratulated Prime Minister HE on his reappointment as Cambodian Prime Minister as well as the achievements made by Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

Both sides discussed and evaluated the achievements of the 2018 Cooperation and the 2019 annual plan, particularly strengthening the military cooperation in disaster relief, including flood, wildfires, etc., along with building military capacity.

Prime Minister HE also thanked the Vietnamese government for aiding the construction of the Ministry of National Defense’s Building.
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Cambodia-Russia Embrace Long Historical Relationship: Cambodian PM HE
17/01/19 10:19
Siem Reap (FN), Jan. 16 - Cambodian Prime Minister HE, on Wednesday, said that Cambodia-Russia has long embraced the close relations, as Russia assisted Cambodia during the bloody Pol Pot regime.

The statement was made during the meeting with Russian delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov.

According to Eang Sophalleth, personal secretary to the Premier, Ilyas Umakhanov expressed congratulations to Cambodia for succesfully hosted Asian Cultural Council (ACC) and the 27th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APFF).

Ilyas Umakhanov pledged to promote stronger relation between the two nations.
It is worth noting that Russia has left many historical achievemnts in Cambodia, such as Russian Hospital, Institute of Technology of Cambodia, and also assists Cambodia in building human resources.
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Can Cambodian foreign policy find its feet?
18 January 2019
Author: Chheang Vannarith, Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace

Amid shifting global power dynamics and intense pressure from the West, Cambodia’s foreign policy strategy in the coming years will aim to diversify its external relations, with a focus on South and East Asian countries. But in practice Cambodia still struggles to implement an effective foreign policy, stymied by institutional weaknesses. Without much-needed reform, Cambodia’s weak international presence may persist.

The rumour that China is eyeing a naval base in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province is stirring public debate both inside and outside the country. US Vice President Mike Pence has raised concerns directly with Prime Minister HE on the issue.

The Cambodian government has repeatedly stressed that it does not intend to align with any major power, nor will it ever allow any foreign military base on its soil, because it adheres to a foreign policy stance of permanent neutrality and non-alignment. Despite these assurances, international media and observers still tend to portray Cambodia as a client state of China.

Such perceptions, which do not reflect the entirety of Cambodia’s foreign policy dynamics, damage the country’s international image and role. The tough measures taken by the European Union and the United States on Cambodia’s perceived ‘democratic backsliding’ partly reflect their own strategic interest in ensuring that Cambodia does not align itself too closely with China.

Facing unprecedented pressure from the West, Cambodia’s foreign policy options are constrained. There is a shared belief among Cambodia’s ruling elites that the European Union and the United States have double standards and treat Cambodia unfairly. They question why the European Union and the United States target Cambodia while Vietnam and Thailand still enjoy good relations with the West. And they question why Cambodia is attacked for forging close ties with China when other Southeast Asian countries are doing the same.
Full article: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/01/18 ... -its-feet/

Oli to visit Vietnam, Cambodia next week
Oli will promote investment and tourism in Nepal during his visits to Vietnam, Cambodia
By Himalayan Times - May 4, 2019

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will visit Vietnam and Cambodia from May 9 to 15.

Oli will leave for Cambodia on May 13. The PM is visiting Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister HE who had visited Nepal during the Asia Pacific Summit, held in Kathmandu last year.

Gyawali said tourism and investment promotion would top agenda in bilateral talks in Cambodia as well. “Some agreements with both the countries will also be signed during PM Oli’s visit,” he said.
In full: https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu ... next-week/

See also: newsworthy/cambodian-diplomacy-embassie ... ia#p296639

Why visit Cambodia ? Good question.

As Oli prepares to visit Cambodia and Vietnam, questions are being asked—why?
Prime minister should set his priorities right when it comes to visiting foreign countries, experts say
- ANIL GIRI, Kathmandu
May 6, 2019-

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is visiting Vietnam and Cambodia from May 9 to 15.

Foreign policy experts and a section of leaders, however, have expressed concerns over Oli’s upcoming visits to the Southeast Asian nations, saying that Nepal neither has much diplomatic engagement nor significant interactions in terms of trade and investments with them.

According to them, the visits also contradict the government-announced policy of financial austerity to lessen the burden on state coffers.

“I do not see any reason why the prime minister is visiting these two nations,” Nishchal Nath Pandey, director of the South Asian Studies and an expert on foreign affairs, told the Post. “Both Cambodia and Vietnam are on the international radar for being illiberal democracies where there is a lack of freedom.”
https://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/new ... d-why.html

Cambodia, Nepal Discuss Direct Flights, Opening Embassies
Cambodia and Nepal are discussing joint steps to promote direct flights between the countries and to open the embassies in their capitals.
By VOA Cambodia - May 16, 2019

Phnom Penh – Cambodia and Nepal are discussing joint steps to promote direct flights between the countries and to open the embassies in their capitals in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation, a government spokesperson said.

Nepal’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli is on an official three-day visit to Cambodia this week and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister HE.

Together they also addressed a Cambodia-Nepal Business Forum in Phnom Penh, which was attended by businesses representatives from the two countries, and they urged greater trade and investment between their nations.

In full: https://www.voacambodia.com/a/cambodia- ... 19009.html

Timor-Leste Foreign Minister to Visit Cambodia
01/06/19
Phnom Penh (FN), May 31 - At the invitation of H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, will conduct an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia from 03 to 04 June 2019, according to the ministry's press release dated Friday.

"During the visit, H.E. Foreign Minister is expected to pay separate courtesy calls on Prime Minister HE and other leaders of the Kingdom of Cambodia."

Following these calls, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn will hold bilateral meeting with his Timorese counterpart to discuss areas of cooperation to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest, including matter regarding Timor-Leste’s application for a membership in ASEAN.
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http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/e ... 13-11.html

PM HE to Make Official Visit to Hungary and Attend the 5th CICA Summit in Tajikistan: Foreign Affairs
10/06/19 19:30

Phnom Penh (FN), June 10 – Cambodian Prime Minister HE, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak, and other senior government officials, will be on an official visit to the Republic of Hungary and attend the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Republic of Tajikistan from 13-15 June 2019, according to the ministry’s press release dated Monday.

1. Official visit to Hungary: Agreement on Economic Cooperation and the Exchange of Education Program to be signed

At the invitation of H.E. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister HE will pay an official visit to the Republic of Hungary from 13 to 14 June 2019. During the visit, Prime Minister is expected to pay separate courtesy calls on Hungarian leaders and will have bilateral talks with his Hungarian counterpart on a wide ranging issues with a view to promote and strengthen the existing bilateral relations as well as close cooperation in multilateral fora.

During this visit, two documents, namely the Agreement on Economic Cooperation and the Exchange of Education Programme, will be signed.

2. The 5th CICA Summit: Prime Minister HE to deliver remarks and hold bilateral talks

At the invitation of President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the CICA Chairman Emomali Rahmon, from 2018 to 2020, Prime Minister will attend the 5th CICA Summit to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 15 June 2019.
http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/e ... 23-43.html