Former Cambodian King donates to China’s flood-hit provinces
BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) — Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk donated 50,000 U.S. dollars in his own name to China’s flood-hit areas, Chinese Foreign Ministry said here Monday.
The king sent a letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressing his concern for people in the affected areas last Wednesday, said the ministry.
Since the beginning of July, torrential rains and severe flooding have left 146 people dead, 40 missing and evacuation of more than 1.3 million people in 10 provinces, mostly along the Yangtze River, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The Thai government last Friday gave 60,000 U.S. dollars to help with flood relief efforts in south China.
City continues to promote investment in Cambodia, a key market
By:SGGP
Ho Chi Minh City will continue promoting investment in many fields of the key market in neighboring Cambodia, said Deputy Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong at the Vietnam – Cambodia Trade, Service and Tourism Fair 2010 (HCMC Expo), held from July 15-19 in Cambodia.
HCMC Expo 2010 is part of the HCM city People’s Committee’s effort to help Vietnamese firms introduce their products within the Cambodian market as well as create cooperation between enterprises of the two countries, said Hong.
Since 1999, many projects invested by HCM City’s firms in sectors such as trade, agriculture, health and education have brought positive effects and profits.
HCMC Expo 2010 attracted thousands of people from Phnom Penh and adjacent areas, who participated by purchasing goods and services from over 200 businesses with products ranging from consumer items to education, tourism and health care.
Many representatives from Vietnamese firms agreed that participation of thousands of Cambodians affirmed the solid position Vietnamese products hold in the market.
According to a report from the city People’s Committee, bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$432 million in the first quarter of the year, an increase of nearly 130% over the same period last year. Officials expect two-way trade to reach US$2 billion this year, a year-on-year increase of 43%.
Cambodia to protect land around Tonle Sap lake
By AP:
Cambodia announced plans Thursday to conserve forested shore areas around Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake.
Sam Nov, a deputy director of the country’s Fisheries Administration, said that some 1.6 million acres (640,000 hectares) of forest land that floods during rainy season with be declared off-limits for development, including encroachment by farmers planting rice.
The lake covers about 618,000 acres (250,000 hectares) during the dry season and expands to about 3 million acres (1.25 million hectares) during the rainy season. It is the habitat for more than 200 species of fish, 42 types of reptiles, 225 species of birds and 46 kinds of mammals.
“The flooded forests are very vital shelters for several species … and their offspring,” Sam Nov said. “We urgently need to conserve this forest. If not we will lose it forever.”
Several areas of flooded forest and wetlands have already been cleared by farmers and agribusiness companies in recent years to convert the land for dry season farming, he said.
Officials from the six provinces that surround the lake, located about 120 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of the capital Phnom Penh, will soon begin informing villagers of the ban on destroying the forest areas, said Sam Nov
Cambodia, Indonesia sign agreement on visa exemption
By:Xinhua
Cambodia and Indonesia on Wednesday signed an agreement on visa exemption to boost tourism flow between the two countries.
After signing the agreement with the visiting Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian foreign minister, Hor Namhong, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the visa exemption will pave the way for larger flow of tourists from Indonesia to Cambodia while Cambodian people will be able to make faster access to Indonesia.
Marty Natalegawa is making a three-day official visit to Cambodia, during which he will pay courtesy calls on Chea Sim, president of the Senate, Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Marty Natalegawa will also be granted a royal audience by King Norodom Sihamoni.
Hor Namhong said his country will look forward to signing more agreements on visa exemptions with all countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as in the Asian region and in Europe.
As of today, Cambodia has signed such agreements with most of ASEAN members except Brunei, Myanmar and Thailand.
ASEAN makes up of ten countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Thai Crisis
Children’s right day is coming soon, 1 june, under stress with the children when saw the Thai government are using the force for demonstrator, this is the black shadow for the child’s dream.
Here is the uncivil war in Thailand, at lease 70 persons were killed and 1700 persons were injured during Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime mister of Thailand (2010).
