By Ek Tha
PHNOM PENH, 17May 2013 (PRU): The outgoing Chinese Ambassador shared views with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Sok An about the growing bilateral relations between the two countries, thanks to the “One China Policy”, which is the key foundation.
In a meeting on Friday between the outgoing Ambassador Pan Guangxue and Dr. Sok An, both sides highly appreciated “the increasing bilateral relations in all fields” and looked forward to increasing that trend for the benefit of the two nations and peoples.
Cambodia enjoys duty free access to China’s market for 418 items, which has contributed to increasing two-way trade to nearly $3 billion last year from $2.5 billion in 2011. Chinese investment in Cambodia is mostly in garments, hydropower, rice milling, agro-industry and energy.
China is also helping Cambodia to improve its human resources to meet the growing demand from economic development. Since 2004, China has helped train more than 1,000 Cambodian students including scholarship students and trainees on short courses. China has also agreed to receive another 100 Cambodian youths for training in China this year.
There are also increasing numbers of exchange visits of the countries’ leaders. The Chinese embassy is planning to host a ceremony in September at the Embassy to mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Cambodia will host the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee from 16 to 27 June in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, said Dr. Sok An, who is the Chairperson of the coming meeting. China will send a large number of delegates to the meeting. End.