China To Provide Over US$70 Million to Cambodia

China To Provide Over US$70 Million to Cambodia

AKP Phnom Penh, March 31, 2012 –

China has pledged to provide 250 million Yuan (approximately over US$39 million) in grant and 200 million Yuan (almost US$32 million) in concession loan to Cambodia.

The aid was announced during the talk this morning between visiting Chinese President H.E. Hu Jintao and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, according to H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian Minister of Information and Government Spokesperson.

In addition, China donated US$20,000 to Samdech Euv (King-Father) team to contribute to his humanitarian mission, he said, adding that the Chinese president also invited His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, to visit China. 

H.E. Hu Jintao expressed China’s support for Cambodia’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for 2013-2014 and pledged to provide the training and mine clearance equipment to Cambodia, according to H.E. Sry Thamrong, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister.

Regarding the South China Sea issue, H.E. Hu Jintao said the issue should not be internationalized, but solved in the framework of ASEAN, underlined H.E. Sry Thamrong. 

For his part, he added, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the development of Cambodia-China relationship reflected the multiform cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed profound thanks to the people and government of China for their assistance to Cambodia and asked China for an annual US$300-million to US$500-million loan to develop the country’s infrastructure. 

During the luncheon hosted by Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen, the Cambodian and Chinese leaders decided to boost the bilateral trade up to US$5 billion by 2017, said H.E. Khieu Kanharith.

H.E. Hu Jintao arrived here yesterday afternoon for a four-day state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni. 

By KHAN Sophirom