H.E. Dr. Sok An, who is also Minister in Charge of the Office of the
Council of Ministers, said, “the information field is one of the key factors to
improve Cambodia-China relations”.
H.E. Wang Chen told Dr. Sok that “the two countries have enjoyed
excellent cooperation” and it will further improve through media and
information cooperation.
The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed this and sought to have China extend
its cooperation with the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PRU) of the Office of
the Council of Ministers.
The PRU has been working with the government’s ministries and
institutions, especially gathering news reports for Prime Minister Samdech Akka
Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen about national and international issues as well
as responding to media.
“I have told my colleagues to contact the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh
to obtain magazines that present China’s point of view, which is useful for us
to have more balanced news reports”, Dr. Sok An told the Chinese Minister, who
led a delegation accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador.
“We will try to provide more opportunities and cooperation with PRU,”
Minister Wang said, adding that the SCIO’s has agreed in principle to arrange
this year 2012 a visit by PRU officials to China at an appropriate time.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Svay Sitha, Chairman of the PRU.
Dr. Sok An also praised Cambodia’s Ministry of Information for
authorising more Chinese broadcasting and print media to operate in Phnom Penh
and Siem Reap.
The two sides exchanged views on tourism. An increasing number of
Chinese are visiting Cambodia, which also contributes to economic development.
In response, Minister Wang said, “We should promote tourism. There will
be more Chinese tourists visiting Siem Reap because the province has the Angkor
complex, a wonderful World Heritage site that displays the long-term
civilisation of Cambodia.”
H.E. Wang Chen said an estimated 50 million Chinese tourists visit the
outside world, while China also received 50 million tourists last year.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An noted that sooner or later, according
to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), predicted that China will be the
world’s number one in terms of receiving tourists and of its citizens
travelling overseas.
Minister Wang also informed Dr. Sok An that the role of the State
Council Information Office is “to introduce China’s policy to the rest of the
world” in order to have more balanced voices overseas, because the currently 80
percent of the global information flow is dominated by western media.
H.E. Wang Chen raised the example that more than 800 foreign
correspondents will be allowed to work in China during the Chinese Communist
Party National Congress.
“We need to have a stronger voice on the international stage, and the
developing countries should have stronger voices now.”
Both sides shared the view that Asia is a rising power
