PHNOM PENH, Nov. 29, 2011 (PRU) – The Indian Deputy Minister for
External Ministry told Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Sok An, on Tuesday
that India is looking to increase integration with ASEAN in the context of
transportation for trade.
His Excellency Sanjay Singh told H.E. Sok An that India would like to
help build capacity for Cambodia by providing English training for Cambodian
students.
India is also looking to connect its roads to a road that will link from
Cambodia to Vietnam to Laos and Burma. India has a land border with Burma.
H.E. Sanjay Singh said that it was a privilege to meet with Dr. Sok An,
who was a Cambodian ambassador to India in the 1980s, and is now also the
Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers.
Ambassador Singh also said that New Delhi will mark its relationship
with ASEAN next year thanks to Cambodia, which acts as a coordinator for
ASEAN-India partnership.
Dr. Sok An thanked India for restoring Cambodia’s Ta Prohm temple built
in the Bayon style in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
India announced in June this year that it will now renovate and restore
another temple — Preah Khan in Kompong
Svay, 100 km to the east of Angkor.
H.E. Dr. Sok An also said that Cambodia achieved tremendous development
after totally dismantling the Khmer Rouge’s political and military organization
in 1998, which brought about mass defections of Pol Pot’s fighters to the Royal
Government. And this was undoubtedly a big plus for peace and stability of the
country. Those are the key factors that have attracted foreign direct
investment to the Kingdom of Wonder.
Dr. Sok An also told the Indian Deputy Minister that Cambodia and the
rest of ASEAN are working together to narrow the gap between the rich and poor
members as the ten-country bloc to establish the ASEAN Economic Community in
2015.