TOKYO (AFP) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen opened talks in Japan on Thursday as he tries to lure more investment to ease his country's dependence on foreign aid.
Hun Sen, visiting Japan for his 15th time, walked a ceremonial red carpet as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed him at his office, with schoolchildren waving the flags of the two countries.
Tokyo has been the top donor to Phnom Penh, but Japan accounts for only two percent of Cambodia's overall trade, according to Japanese official data.
Donors are meeting in Cambodia next week, but many have expressed deep frustration over the lack of reform in the country including corruption.
Hun Sen earlier this month praised China, which has a growing rivalry for influence with Japan, for handing over aid without any conditions.
The Cambodian premier has said he would ask Japan for more investment in addition to handouts to improve infrastructure which is in tatters after decades of civil war and neglect.
"There will be a lot of discussions involving development issues, aid, investment and tourism for Cambodia," Hun Sen said during the opening of a Japanese-funded hospital in northwest Cambodia last month.
Japan pledged more than 100 million dollars at last year's donor meeting, which netted Cambodia some 600 million dollars in aid.
Hun Sen, who arrived late Wednesday and leaves Saturday, will also have an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and travel to the southern region of Fukuoka to observe a project in farm development, a top priority for Cambodia.
Sarith's quote:
If Cambodia can get close tight with Japan, Cambodian people will become prosperous some days. As we know the history, Japan used to run by a dictatorship until the end of world war II. When Japan lost the war to American in World War II, American converted Japan from a dictatorship country into a democratic country which make Japan become the second power in economic prosperous in Asia. Japan is still dominated the world economic right now. Plus Japan become the best allied to American.
If Camobdia want to become prosperous like Japan, Cambodia can't be run by a dictatorship. The prime minister of Cambodia can serve only 2 terms. As we know, Hun Sen has been ruling Cambodia for the last 25 years. No other countries have the longest prime minister as Cambodia. Basically, Hun Sen is a dictatorship.
Date: 06/14/2007
Author: Yahoo news
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