Heads up: There may be traffic jams on certain roads in Phnom Penh and an increased police presence on October 10 and 11. (Tomorrow and the next day.)


TOP NEWS: China’s Foreign Minister to Pay Official Visit to Cambodia
10/10/20 00:04
Phnom Penh (FN), Oct. 9 – His Excellency Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, will pay an official visit to Cambodia on 11-12 October 2020, according to the press release dated Friday.

“During the visit, His Excellency Wang Yi will pay a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister HE, and meet with Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.”

“Minister Wang Yi will hold an official meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, during which various fields of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common interest and concerns will be discussed,” the press release said.

“Prime Minister HE will witness the signing of Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and two other important documents namely the Exchange of Note for the Feasibility Study on the Project of Improvement of Sihanoukville Provincial Referral Hospital and the Exchange of Note for the Feasibility Study on the Project of the Municipal Sewerage System Development Project in Sihanoukville,” it continued.

“The official visit of Minister Wang Yi to Cambodia will further strengthen the long-lasting relations of traditional friendship, solidarity, fraternity and fruitful cooperation between Cambodia and China in light of the unprecedented global challenges of the COVID19 pandemic.”
=FRESH NEWS

Standard pose. smile with hand out..................

Arget wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:41 pm Standard pose. smile with hand out..................

Mi casa es su casa
In fact
mi pais es tu pais

Cambodia-China Trade Deal to Be Signed during Wang Yi’s Visit on Monday
His visit will be marked by the signing of several agreements between the two countries.
By Cambodianess - October 11, 2020

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi is expected in Cambodia on Oct. 11 for a 2-day official visit during which he is to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister HE and Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.

According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued on Oct. 9, several agreements will be signed during his visit, including the free-trade agreement between the two countries.

“Prime Minister HE will witness the signing of Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and two other important documents namely the Exchange of Note for the Feasibility Study on the Project of Improvement of Sihanoukville Provincial Referral Hospital and the Exchange of Note for the Feasibility Study on the Project of the Municipal Sewerage System Development Project in Sihanoukville,” the press release read.
In full: https://cambodianess.com/article/cambod ... -on-monday

CCFTA Signed Under Witness of Cambodian PM and Chinese Foreign Minister
AKP Phnom Penh, October 12, 2020 --

The Kingdom of Cambodia and the People’s Republic of China signed here today, at around noon, their bilateral Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) to further boost their trade exchange.

The CCFTA was signed by H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, and his Chinese counterpart H.E. Zhong Shan.

Speaking at the function, both commerce ministers spoke highly of the CCFTA, stressing that it is a new milestone in the relations between the two countries.

H.E. Pan Sorasak said that the timely implementation of this agreement would provide economic and social benefits to the people of both countries in a mutually advantageous manner, while H.E. Zhong Shan said that China will keep close cooperation with Cambodia to push for the early entrance into force of the agreement.

CCFTA is Cambodia's first FTA with a foreign country, which will not only promote bilateral trade, but also contribute to help Cambodia address the challenges in the post-pandemic era.

Both sides concluded their negotiations for a bilateral FTA in only six months, which shows the strong commitment of the two countries’ leaders to strengthen closer and broader relations. This CCFTA will bring about many economic and social benefits to the people of the two countries through the liberalisation of trade in goods and services, the promotion of comprehensive investment, as well as cooperation in a number of areas.

Besides CCFTA, three other important documents namely the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation for Grant Aid Extension, the Exchange of Note for the Feasibility Study on the Project of Improvement Preah Sihanouk Provincial Referral Hospital, and the Exchange of Note for the Feasibility Study on the Project of the Municipal Sewerage System Development Project in Preah Sihanouk province were also signed on the occasion.
- AKP

Outcomes of Two-day Official Visit of Chinese State Councilor in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, October 14, 2020 --

The following is the outcomes of Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Wang Yi's two-day (Oct. 11-12) official visit in Cambodia released by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and received by AKP this afternoon:



- AKP

China-Cambodia free trade deal highlights Beijing’s push for economic influence in Southeast Asia

Cambodia, which is among Asia’s poorest countries, has been an important ally to China in recent years, but trade volume between the two is relatively small
New trade pact between Beijing and Phnom Penh came together in less than a year without ‘much political interference’
Amanda Lee in Beijing
Published: 7:00am, 15 Oct, 2020

The relatively speedy free trade deal that China sealed with Cambodia this week to cut tariffs and boost investment highlights Beijing’s intention to strengthen its economic influence among Asean members amid a growing rivalry with the United States in the region.

However, the full scope of the trade pact, put together in less than a year, has not yet been unveiled.

China already has existing trade agreements with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Cambodia. And many of China’s and Cambodia’s exports have already been tariff-free as a result of the 2010 Asean-China Free Trade Area agreement.

The Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that China will extend its zero-tariff policy to 97.53 per cent of imported goods from Cambodia, while Cambodia will not impose tariffs on 90 per cent of all Chinese imports.

The negotiations have been under way since December after the European Union, a major market for Cambodian products, suspended some of Cambodia’s special trade preferences as punishment for human rights violations.

The new pact was agreed to so quickly because the trade volume between China and Cambodia is relatively small, said Xu Liping, director of the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a think tank affiliated with the State Council. Total trade between the two countries grew 27.7 per cent from 2018 to US$9.43 billion in 2019, according to figures from China’s Ministry of Commerce.

“When it comes to trade deal negotiations, it’s not just about commerce – political issues are also very important,” Xu said. “The trade talks between China and Cambodia didn’t have much political interference – this is why the deal could be achieved quickly.”

Despite the economic downturn brought by the coronavirus pandemic, for the first eight months this year, trade between China and Asean rose 3.8 per cent over the same period last year, hitting US$416.6 billion and making Asean China’s biggest trading partner so far this year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-econ ... jings-push

The wheel turns..

I remember seeing Secretary of State Hillary's motorcade speed past me one day
- on the way to the airport

sigh