Chinese Capital of US$6.7 Billion Is Being Used in Cambodia

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 630 - Tuesday, 15.9.2009

"Kandal: Expressing his appreciation for aid provided by the People's Republic of China in recent years, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen said on 14 September 2009 that the total capital from China being used in Cambodia is US$6.7 billion, which contributes importantly to develop Cambodia, and this capital does not include aid.

"Samdech said during a ceremony to connect the middle portion of the Cambodia-China friendship bridge at Prek Kdam, which is built with assistance from China, trusting Cambodia to receive this loan, saying that the Chinese leaders have the habit to talk less but do much, and they do not impose conditions. Samdech added, "Compared to China, the Cambodian population is only 1% of that of China, but the attitudes of Chinese leaders towards Cambodia is so good and full of friendship, understanding, and respect, and they recognize me as a friend (during previous visits to China.

"Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen added, 'Top leaders of China called me 'Your Excellency Hun Sen, long time friend of China' - and these words are very valuable, not just for me, but also for Cambodia. The Chinese leaders' words have much important content, also about the inheritance that we receive from our former King, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, who has always implemented the One-China-Policy also in the past, and I am the Prime Minister to inherit and to continue it.'

"Samdech Hun Sen said during the ceremony, which also the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Ms. Zhang Jinfeng - 张金凤 - attended, that he has cooperated with Chinese prime ministers during three terms, and the words used by those Chinese leaders are understandable. They said that every project depends on Cambodia, as long as they ensure its economic efficiency. Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen said that he had responded that Chinese aid not only helps Cambodia to develop the economy, but also to strengthen the political independence of Cambodia, which is precious.

"According to Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen, all capital from China used and being used in Cambodia includes more than US$1.4 billion for infrastructure, more than US$4 billion for tourism, and nearly US$1 billion for industry, and more than US$30 million for agriculture.

"According to a report of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the connection ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen was for the last connection portion of the bridge, with has a length of 981 meter and is 13.4 meter wide, it extends over 10 spans, and it is connected with 419 meters of roads. The Prek Kdam bridge is constructed by the Shanghai Construction Group - 上海建工集团- and monitored by the Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision - 广州万安建设监理有限公司 - of the People's Republic of China. It is constructed according to the norms of the Chinese highway standards, to last for up to 100 years. The construction of this bridge was begun on 11 June 2007; its cost is US$30,866,594, including the [Cambodian] government share. By the end of August, 85% has been completed, and it will be finished in early April 2010.

"The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Tram Iv Tek, said that Chinese assistance for road construction since 2004 includes the construction of National Road 7, which connects National Road 13 to Laos at Trapeang Kreal in Stung Treng, and the provision of automatic mobile scanners for checking goods loaded in containers at the Phnom Penh port, the restoration of National Road 76 from Snuol to Sen Monorum in Mondolkiri, for which 52% has been constructed, National Road 8 with is 69% finished, National Road 57 with 36%, and the Prek Ta Meak bridge with 77%. Besides, China has provided assistance for the construction of National Road 78 from Ou Pong Moan to Ban Lung in Ratanakiri, where the construction will start in November 2009." Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2059, 15.9.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #289, 15.9.2009

• The Cambodian Government Reacts Against the US Report on Forced and Child Labor in Cambodia [the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Om Yentieng, said that the report seems not to know Cambodia well, and it has not clearly identified what is forced labor]
• The Prime Minister Warns Companies that Overload Their Trucks with Wood so that They Damage Roads and Bridges: They Will Be Closed Down
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia Prepares a Diplomatic Note over the Burning of a Khmer Citizen to Death [see Rasmei Kampuchea in The Mirror of Vol.17, #4998, 13-14.9.2009]
• The Well-Known Monk Kiet Chanthuch Got Drunk and Ran after Monks and Nuns to Hit Them in a Pagoda [Sihanoukville]
• [Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs] Kasit Piromya Visited the Preah Vihear Temple, but Did Not Go to the Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda
• Documents of the Tuol Sleng Prison Are Recognized as Valuable Document by the UNESCO Memory of the World Register [UNESCO recognized the documents, including photos, films, "confession" and biographical notes of prisoners etc., as a cruel testimony of torture during the Khmer Rouge regime. Actually, to inscribe the collection of the Tuol Sleng documents into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register had already been announced by the UNESCO Director-General Matsuura Koïchiro in July, "recognizing the outstanding value and world significance" of these documents. While the inscription of the Preah Vihear Temple into the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites had been accompanied by manifold announcements by government agencies and the media, this inscription into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register obviously went on so far almost without any announcements.
• According to Secretary of State Som Sokun of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, at a press conference to mark World Memory Day on 14 September, Cambodia will receive funds for the preservation of the Tuol Sleng documents into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2059, 15.9.2009

• Chinese Capital of US$6.7 Billion Is Being Used in Cambodia
• The Phnom Penh Police Held a Press Conference to Present [two] Gold Robbers [and a woman who bought robbed gold], and Weapons Used for the Robberies
• A Man Drove a Car to Intentionally Hit Three People to Death, where a Husband and Wife Died Immediately, and Another Person Was Seriously Injured [the perpetrator escaped after the event - Phnom Penh]
• The Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association Plans to March to Celebrate the International Teachers' Day on 5 October 2009 [and will request the government to increase teachers' monthly salaries to Riel 1 million, approx. US$250]
• Citizens from 102 Families Came to Court when Only Six Representatives Had Been Summoned [over a land dispute - Kompong Chhnang]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6755, 15.9.2009

• Eight Journalists' Associations Sent a Letter to Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen to Ask for His Intervention to Release Mr. Hang Chakra [the editor-in-chief of Khmer Machas Srok who was jailed for one year for disinformation]
• The Cambodia-China Prek Khdam Friendship Bridge Connection Ceremony Was Celebrated [Kandal]
• Houses of Thousands of Families in Phnom Penh Thmey Are Being Flooded [Sen Sok district, Phnom Penh]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4999, 15.9.2009

• The Remains of the Body of a Khmer Worker Burnt to Death by Siamese [Thai] Soldiers Was Found; Cambodian Officials Criticized the Siamese [Thai] Black Clad Soldiers [the special Thai Border Protection Unit] for Seriously Violating Human Rights
• The Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief [Mr. Itthaporn Subbawong] Arrived at Cambodia [accompanied by more than 30 Thai air force officers to strengthen cooperation between the air forces of both countries]

Sereypheap Thmey, Vol.17, #1794, 15.9.2009

• Corruption Makes Unlicensed Pharmacies to Grow Like Mushrooms

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