Phnom Penh (FN), April 29 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen departed Phnom Penh late Thursday for the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and a series of events and meetings in Beijing from 25 to 29 April 2019 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Prime Minister Hun Sen left Cambodia at 8:00 am on 25 April 2019 and arrived at Beijing International Airport at 1:50 pm, warmly welcomed by the Chinese side and stayed at China World Summit Wing Hotel.
The premier has been conferred a title of "Honorary Professor of International Relations" from Beijing University on 25 April 2019, in a handing-over ceremony attended by Chinese dignitaries, Vice-Minister of Education of China, Director of Beijing University and many international and national guests.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on 26 April 2019, pledged to strengthen cooperation, particularly complete border demarcation in 2019 and make border areas peaceful and developed, speaking in a bilateral meeting prior to the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing from 25 to 29 April 2019.
At the 2nd BRF, Cambodia-China, the ironclad friend, will bring cooperation to another level, the “Cambodia-China Community of Shared Future”, and that both leaders will sign a protocol on Cambodia-China joint action plans.
On 26 April, Prime Minister delivered an address on the Forum’s theme “Belt and Road Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”.
The premier stated that BRI has contributed to both hard and soft connectivity, synergy in development policy, investment in infrastructure, cooperation in economic, trade and investment sectors, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Cambodia-China signed three agreements, including:
1. Memorandum of Understanding on Framework Financing Agreement between Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited and Canadia Bank Plc.
2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Bank of China on Promoting Financing to Support the Production, Procurement, Processing and Export of Cambodian Agricultural Products.
3. Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation 2019-2021 between The Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Bank of China Limited.
On 27 April 2019, Prime Minister Hun Sen attended first summit in Beijing under the theme of "Promoting Connectivity to Seek New Resources for Growth". At this time, the premier had an opportunity to give a 5-minute speech. Heads of State, Heads of Government and all delegates agreed to reach a joint statement of International Cooperation Agency, in which all leaders considered the connectivity is contributing to economic growth, economic development, and modern commercial society as well as investment services, increasing employment opportunities and the improvement of communication and exchange between the people.
After attending the summit, Prime Minister Hun Sen met Wang Huning, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China. He pledged to help Cambodia solve every issue, including EBA. Wang highly commends the leadership of Prime Minister in ensuring peace, stability, and rapid socio-economic development.
Prime Minister also requested the Chinese side to further promote investment and trade in Cambodia.
On 28 April 2019 at 9:00 am, Prime Minister Hun Sen met Mr. Chen Fenjia, the Board of Trustees and the Secretary General of the China Railway Corporation. The premier encourages Chinese railroad company to jointly work with Oknha Kith Meng’s Royal Rail Way to develop railroads in Cambodia.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met with representative of the China National Heavy Machinery (CNHM) on 28 April 2019, encouraging the CNHM to further develop energy sector in Cambodia in response to the growing needs of people.
Prime Minister Hun Sen also met Li Jinge, Vice President of Huawei Beijing. Cambodia becomes the first country in ASEAN to sign 5G agreement with Huawei.
On 28 April 2019 at 10:30 am, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China chaired the signing ceremony of six agreements on Sunday as follows:
1. Memorandum of Understanding on Key Projects for Cooperation on Productivity Capacity and Investment
2. Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Support on Tax Affairs
3. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on the Export of 400,000 Tons of Cambodian Rice to China
4. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation of Rectangular Strategy and Belt and Road Initiative.
5. Action Plans on Cambodia-China Community of Shared Future
6. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation under Grant Aid
In the meeting, Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, pledged to assist Cambodia on all sectors, particularly encourage more investors to Cambodia.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged China Hauneng Group, which invested in hydroelectric power at Lower Sesan 2, Cambodia, to invest in solar farms in Cambodia and that the company reassured Prime Minister that the company will be able to invest 200 MW through solar power in the near future.
After finishing the meeting on the evening of April 28, Prime Minister Hun Sen attended the 2019 International Horticultural Exhibition, featuring Cambodian identity, built in International Horticultural Expo Center in Beijing, China. The park is built under the theme of "Living better living with green environment".
Last meeting of Prime Minister Hun Sen was made with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 29 April 2019. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced to grant approximately USD 90 million in aid to support Cambodia’s defense sector, strengthening sovereignty and territorial integrity of the kingdom.
The President added that in response to EBA threat, China will encourage more investors to Cambodia and import more Cambodian products to Chinese markets.
At 3:35 p.m local time, Prime Minister and his delegation landed Phnom Penh safe and sound.
=FRESH NEWS
