(Phnom Penh): Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen allowed Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Masahiro Mikami to pay a courtesy visit at the Peace Palace this morning. During the meeting, the Ambassador stressed that Japan continues to cooperate with Cambodia, including in promoting political, economic, cultural and other bilateral cooperation.
He stressed that the two countries’ relations have reached a strategic level by the top leaders. By providing direct flights between the two countries which can facilitate travel, diplomacy, investors and tourism. Trade volume between Cambodia and Japan has steadily increased, and he wants to see more trade to grow, including investment from Japanese in Cambodia. He also wants to see economic cooperation between the two countries improve as well as other sectors. For the first time, Japan has provided military assistance to Cambodia in training Cambodian troops in Japan.
The Ambassador is determined that in his term of office, he will strive to enhance bilateral cooperation, to grow and to achieve greater success. The Japanese government will continue to assist Cambodia in boosting its exports to international markets. Japan continues to provide assistance to Cambodia in demining and the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Japan is interested in providing assistance to the electricity sector in Cambodia, including the master plan for Sihanoukville port development.
He said that Cambodia wants Japan to master the plan to develop the port of Sihanoukville quickly and successfully. The construction of a deep-sea port in Sihanoukville will strengthen the port’s ability to handle large vessels without the need to transfer goods in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.
He hoped that Japan would promote the construction of a deep-sea port to enable large ships to dock at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. The Prime Minister also thanked Japan for helping with demining in Cambodia, and said that demining and removing of unexploded ordnance continue despite the drop in the number of mines, but this remains a priority of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
