Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, brings its energetic and affordable brand to Cambodia’s lively capital with the opening of its latest ibis budget address.

Travellers are invited to experience the contemporary offerings of ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside.

Bringing to life the passion for urban sport, ibis budget is a smart basecamp for spirited urban adventures. Upon arriving at ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside, guests can expect a comfortable and contemporary design. Thanks to its ‘Open to Adventure’ philosophy, ibis budget invites travellers to embark on last-minute adventures, take a break and stay active. Social hubs design is inspired by the urban sport universe, encouraging visitors to stay energized and enjoy the fun. Room design is cosy and comfortable, consolidating the urban sport touch through subtle elements.

“We’re really excited to debut our ibis budget brand in Cambodia for the first time. We have a long history in Cambodia, with six hotels currently operating across all segments and a pipeline of three hotels set to open in the coming years,” says Garth Simmons, Accor’s Chief Executive Officer for Southeast Asia, Japan & South Korea.

“The ibis budget brand is a key brand for Accor, with more than 625 hotels currently operating and 62,000 rooms across 20+ countries. We look forward to expanding this renowned brand in Southeast Asia and welcoming guests to experience the comfortable and affordable accommodation at ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside.”

The hotel has 110 modern rooms across five different configurations, including Standard Rooms and Family Suites. Each room features a bathtub, 32-inch TVs and business desks. Guests can grab a bite from the hotel’s self-service vending machines, offering snacks, light meals and various beverages.

The riverside area of Phnom Penh is home to key amenities such as the Diamond Island Convention Centre and the Aeon Mall. ibis budget Phnom Penh riverside is the perfect choice as a basecamp for urban adventures. A bridge connects the hotel with Koh Pich, an up-and-coming district of the capital, located on the Mekong and Basac rivers, which features restaurants, entertainment and a photogenic neighbourhood named ‘Elysée’ that was inspired by Paris. Key attractions such as the Independence Monument, the National Museum of Cambodia and majestic Royal Palace are just minutes away by foot or tuk-tuk.

“Our team is truly excited to open the ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside. The hotel is perfectly located within the city, allowing guests to easily access various business, dining and entertainment districts whether they are travelling for work or leisure. We are also proud to have eliminated all single-use plastics within our guest rooms, ensuring we operate in a responsible manner,“ said Mulwardi Tjitra, General Manager, ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside.

To celebrate the opening, the hotel is offering a special rate starting from 25 USD++ per night until 31st March 2023. Book on Booking.com

Source: ftnnews

The post Phnom Penh Riverside Ibis Budget Opens appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

A FUNDRAISING campaign is underway to help a squad of Cambodian Gaelic footballers reach Co Derry this summer to compete in the 2023 GAA World Games.

The city is hosting the first global Gaelic games event to be held since before the Covid pandemic, with around 100 teams from across the world coming to the home of their adopted sports of football, hurling and camogie.

Among those aiming for success at the GAA’s Derry Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg, with hopes of earning a place at finals to be held in Dublin’s Croke Park in July, is Cambodia’s Cairde Khmer GAA.

Chaired by Co Cork’s Ronan Sheehan, the club has the honour of representing Asia at the first World Games to be held since 2019, and aims to send both a men’s and women’s team to compete.

Both teams will consist entirely of Cambodian players, who have fallen in love with the sport after joining the club’s outlets in the country’s capital Phnom Penh and its second-largest city, Siem Reap.

Ronan told the Irish News of how his dedicated players have enjoyed success across Asia in Ireland’s native sport, before being chosen to represent the entire continent in what is effectively the GAA’s own ‘world cup’.

The club came together in 2017 when Co Tyrone man Paddy Campbell put the call out for players while travelling in the region, and Ronan, along with fellow Cork men Conor Wall and Peter Downey, joined to create what would become Asia’s most successful Gaelic football team.

The club aims to send a men’s and women’s squad to the 2023 GAA World Games in July.
“Initially we had Cambodian players join who had played soccer, and they became interested and started inviting their friends and it grew from there,” Ronan said.

“They saw these Irish lads playing what looked like a crazy mix of soccer and basketball, but soon picked it up, and they just got it.”

The club has already successfully competed in regional tournaments in recent years, prompting the Asian County Board to select Cairdre Khmer as their ambassadors in Co Derry for the World Games.

“Costs for our players to go to tournaments can be high, when you consider the average wage in Cambodia is $190 a month. We recently brought 16 players to Malaysia to compete, and that’s no mean feat. We can just about manage the fundraising it when it’s travelling in Asia, but getting the players to Ireland will be a huge undertaking,” Ronan explained.

“But the players have earned this chance, they put their heart and soul into the game.When you look at what young players have back home in terms of leagues, leisure centres, opportunities to hone their skills and the like – our players never really had that before joining, especially the women, so to see them all not only be passionate about GAA, but also become so skilled – it’s inspirational.”

Source: irish news

The post Cambodian GAA World Games campaign gains momentum. appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

THE seeds of goodwill sown by the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, four years ago are expected to bear fruit in the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May.

Aside from the fact that the Filipino ethnic martial art is back in the regional games after a four-year absence, Pinoy campaigners will be able to compete in all the arnis events in Cambodia, according to a PEKAF source.

This is indeed a positive news considering the fact that Pinoy athletes will be limited to certain events in other combat sports.

“There is no restriction to the number of events that our arnis athletes can compete in the SEA Games,” the source said of the positive news.

“We treated the Cambodian sports officials well when they competed in arnis in the 30th SEA Games we hosted in 2019, and they even won a gold in the sport,” the source, who declined to be named, added.

The Cambodians won one gold, two silver and 17 bronze medals in arnis in 2019 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Pinoy arnis standard-bearers, returning to the biennial sportsfest after a 14-year absence, dominated the competition with 14 gold, four silver and two bronze medals out of 20 events.

They were among the major contributors that enabled the Philippines to regain the overall championship with a grand haul of 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

The same source said PEKAF continues to show its gratitude and appreciation to the Cambodian organizers by sending instructors over to the host country while providing other logistical support they might need in staging the event.

“We have trained some of their athletes in kun bokator (a Cambodian ethnic martial art) by sending some of arnis our instructors to Cambodia, and, hopefully, we might hold a mini competition before the SEA Games among Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines if it is still possible,” he said.

He said that PEKAF will also stage its “Battle of Champions” at the end of the month at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium that will serve as the national team tryouts for the SEA Games.

“Our national athletes were laid off for a long while because of the COVID-19 pandemic so we are also looking for fresh blood who can help up us in our campaign in the Cambodia SEA Games with these tryouts,” he said.

Source: malaya

The post Cambodians expect Arnis to succeed. appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

The Ju-Jitsu Federation of Cambodia (JJFC) has held a rules seminar at its headquarters in Phnom Penh prior to its National Championships.

This was held with the support of the Ju-jitsu Asian Union (JJAU).

The National Championships was held at the Olympic Stadium in the Cambodian capital, and was viewed as a test event for this year’s Southeast Asian Games.

Cambodia is due to host the Southeast Asian Games for the first time this year from May 5 to 17.

Ju-jitsu is one of the 38 sports on the programme.

Cambodia has won medals at the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games in ju-jitsu ©JJAU
Cambodia has won medals at the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games in ju-jitsu ©JJAU
It featured at last year’s delayed Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, with Cambodia winning a bronze medal through Marc Alexander Lim in the men’s 69 kilograms category.

Ju-jitsu made its Asian Games debut at Jakarta-Palembang 2018, with Cambodia’s Jessa Khan earning gold in the women’s ne-waza under-49kg.

The sport is on the programme again for this year’s delayed Asian Games in Hangzhou, and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi.

JJFC President Seng Bunsong has expressed his desire to organise more tournaments and help develop ju-jitsu in Cambodia.

The JJFC thanked the JJAU for its assistance in staging the rules seminar.

Source: the inside games

The post JJAU assists Cambodian Ju-Jitsu Federation rules seminar. appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

MUAY THAI: Thai officials reiterated yesterday (Feb 9) they will not send athletes to compete in Kun Khmer at this year’s SEA Games in Cambodia.

Ifma chief Sakchye Tapsuwan speaks at a press conference yesterday (Feb 9). Photo: Bangkok Post

Sakchye Tapsuwan, president of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (Ifma), told a press conference that Thailand can’t take part in Kun Khmer because it is against his organisation’s rules, reports the Bangkok Post.

“We have respect for Kun Khmer,” said Sakchye who is also president of the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand (Amtat).

“But we can’t send athletes to compete in the sport because it is against Ifma rules and Thailand does not have a Kun Khmer association. We have talked to officials at the National Olympic Committee of Thailand and they agreed with us in principle.”

The Ifma chief said the countries, which participate in Kun Khmer at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia from May 5-17, will not be allowed to take part in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand later this year.

While Thai officials claim Kun Khmer is indeed Muay Thai, Cambodian officials insist it originated from their Khmer culture.

Ifma secretary-general Stephan Fox told yesterday’s press conference that Kun Khmer is not recognised by the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (Aims) and the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada).

The Kun Khmer association has fewer than 40 member countries and has not held at least three international events, Fox said.

“So Kun Khmer is not qualified [to be a sport at the SEA Games],” Fox said.

“We have informed the SEA Games members that [they] cannot take part in the event.

“This is not a boycott… but to act according to the rules.”

Source: the phuket news

The post Thais Skip Kun Khmer Event appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

China, Cambodia to push cooperation further with PM’s visit, with infrastructure in focus

The already ironclad relationship of China and Cambodia is expected to progress further, as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to China starting from Thursday will hopefully result in cooperation in certain infrastructure projects, and as travel resumes between the two nations following China’s border reopening.

Being the first overseas prime minister to visit China after the 2023 Spring Festival, Hun Sen came to China around the start of the “Cambodia-China Friendship Year” and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which experts said is proof of the two countries’ solid friendship and mutual needs.

According to a report of the Khmer Times in January, many development cooperation projects will be discussed during the three-day visit. In particular, Cambodian officials might seek support from China to build a high-speed railway, the report said.

Cambodia is moving to build a high-speed train system connecting Phnom Penh and its Banteay Meanchey province, which shares a border with Thailand, using a concessional loan from China, reports said. The project’s feasibility study has been conducted.

The possible cooperation should add another high-profile project to a pool of infrastructure projects built by Chinese companies in Cambodia. Some are already operating and generating economic benefits for local people, while work on others has just started.

One example is the Lower Sesan 2 Hydro Power dam, which was built and managed by China Huaneng Group. The dam is Cambodia’s largest hydropower station and accounts for about one-fifth of the country’s annual power generation.

Wang Hailong, who is in charge of public relations for the project, told the Global Times on Thursday that since the station was put into operation in 2008, China Huaneng has trained more than 200 local technicians and managers. The company also created more than 2,000 jobs for local people at the peak of construction.

The project led to the relocation of 840 households and 3,690 poor people in the surrounding area, helping them move to villages with better living conditions, he said.

Huaneng used technologies like smart power plants and remote control as part of the project, he said.

In January, Hun Sen presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for a 45.5-kilometer stretch of National Road 7 being upgraded from two lanes to four. The project was carried out by China Road and Bridge Corp, a Phnom Penh Post report noted.

Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times that well-operating infrastructure projects built by Chinese firms in Asia, like the China-Laos Railway, have provided successful cases for countries like Cambodia.

With better connectivity with its neighbors, Cambodia can develop at a faster pace, Gu said. China-Cambodia trade will also get a strong boost if there’s land infrastructure to ship products between the two, presumably via neighboring nations like Thailand.

Wang Xudong, secretary-general of the Cambodia Chinese Chamber of Commerce, told the Global Times on Thursday that after a prolonged war in Cambodia, the country’s infrastructure is quite weak. Roads, airports and ports need improvement, and there are hardly any rail facilities.

“China and Cambodia have cooperated in a great variety of fields, especially in infrastructure… there are many hydropower stations in Cambodia, and about 35 percent of roads, as well as important bridges, were built by Chinese companies, with more cooperation likely,” Wang said.

Wang Hailong said that Cambodia, which is rich in hydropower, photovoltaic and wind power clean energy resources, needs a complete energy infrastructure network. As China has advantages in power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, there’s a potential for cooperation.

Cooperation in other sectors is also expected to accelerate, particularly after China reopened its borders around the end of last year.

Wang Xudong said that “Cambodia exports agricultural products such as rice and fruit, as well as mining resources, to China. The country is still developing, and it can use China’s advanced products, equipment, technology and professional talent.”

Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce aims to set up five Cambodian private business centers in major Chinese cities to promote Cambodian exports, the Khmer Times reported.

Bilateral trade surged 17.5 percent on a yearly basis to $16 billion in 2022, customs data showed.

Moreover, tourism is also recovering at an orderly pace. Cambodia welcomed 125 Chinese tourists from Beijing on Tuesday at the Phnom Penh International Airport. They were greeted by Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Source: global times

The post With PM’s visit, China and Cambodia to boost infrastructure cooperation. appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) — Over past years, mutual trust and support between Cambodia and China have largely consolidated bilateral relations, said Cambodian officials.

According to the Undersecretary of State and Spokesman Penn Sovicheat from the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, economic cooperation between the two countries has deepened under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA).

He also says the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has injected momentum into the development of the travel, transport and logistics industry in the country.

For Cambodia’s tourism minister, he is eyeing the huge potential of the Chinese outbound tourism market.

An official with Apsara National Authority, which is the government agency of Cambodia responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the famed Angkor Archeological Park, hails the two country’s cooperation in conserving the Angkor.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

Source: xinhua

The post GLOBALink | Trust, support cement Cambodia-China relations: appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen attend the opening ceremony of the China-Cambodia business, investment and tourism forum in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen on Friday attended the opening ceremony of the China-Cambodia business, investment and tourism forum.

The forum was held in Beijing, attended by some 300 government and business representatives from the two countries.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, Hu said while addressing the forum.

China is willing to strengthen the synergy of bilateral development strategies, deepen trade and investment cooperation, expand cultural and tourism exchanges, and advance the construction of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future, Hu said.

Hun Sen said that Cambodia and China cooperate closely on the economy, trade, investment and tourism. He called for bilateral development strategies to be synergized and for cooperation in business, infrastructure and tourism to be deepened. ■

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua addresses the opening ceremony of the China-Cambodia business, investment and tourism forum in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

Source: xinhua

The post Chinese vice premier, Cambodian PM attend business, investment, tourist forum appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

It’s a challenge to switch on the economic and investment news for Cambodia and filter through which projects will actually materalise.

New airports though are coming – as many as six airport projects were explored for the period 2019 to 2024 to further promote the aviation sector, which in turn promotes tourism and national economic growth.

The four new airports that are under development have a combined investment worth approximately USD $2.8 billion.

Nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s 17 million inhabitants lived in urban areas by the end 2022, but this number is set to grow to nearly 8 million people by 2030.

Coupled with the government’s hopes that tourism will keep growing and surpass pre-pandemic levels over the coming years, it makes sense for the network of airports to be increased for greater international and domestic connectivity.

What Airports Are On The Rise In Cambodia
At the start of 2023, the fourth greenfield airport in the Kingdom was confirmed to go ahead on Koh Rong, adding to the Dara Sakor International Airport, Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, and Techo International Airport, all of which are invested in by the private sector.

A recent development report indicated that as many as 13 airports were in conversation across the country, and there is a strong case that this is too many for a country the size of Cambodia. There are three current active and international airports serving domestic and international flights, which have all undergone some form of refurbishment and upgrades over recent years.

The sudden rush to interconnect the country locally and within the region has also seen simultaneous upgrades to deep sea ports, the addition of new tourism ports, possible new and expensive train links and highways – there is a frantic rush to attract investment into infrastructure.

Siem Reap Angkor International Airport
The new international airport in Siem Reap was confirmed in 2019, and construction has been underway at Soutr Nikom district, approximately 51 km southeast of Siem Reap and 40 km from UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.

The airport is significantly larger than the current operational airport in Siem Reap, and will cover 700ha with an estimated cost of USD $900 million.

The airport is invested in by Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, an affiliate of China’s Yunnan Investment Holdings Ltd who hold the rights to a 55-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. The group confirmed at the start of 2023, that the airport would be open before the end of the year.

As a 4E-level airport, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport should be able to accommodate aircraft such as A340-300, A350-900, B777-200, B777-300ER, B747-300 and B747-400.

Techo Takhmao International Airport
The rapid expansion of urban areas in Cambodia, and especially in the case of Phnom Penh, meant there was nowhere for the current international airport to grow, so it makes sense that with increased travel demand – a new airport was possibly needed.

Although the new airport is exciting, one of the real benefits for all these years has been the quick and easy access to the existing airport in the capital for tourists, foreign residents and Cambodians.

The Techo Takhmao International Airport, located around 35 kilometres south of Phnom Penh, is a joint venture between the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, the Cambodian government, and the SSCA – called the Cambodia Airport Investment Co.

By mid-2022, construction of the new international airport was one-third complete, and like the other airports under development, has fallen behind schedule with the pandemic being blamed. Current plans are for the construction to be completed by 2024, with the airport to be operational by 2025.

Changi Airport Group provided a boost of confidence to the ambitious plans for the airport – which will be the ninth largest in the world – and as a 4F class designated airport it would allow for larger aircraft to make use of the transport hub in the capital.

The project spans over 2,600 hectares, and according to the master plan, the airport will handle 13 million passengers a year in the first phase, 30 million passengers in the second phase by 2030, and up to 50 million passengers in 2050 in the third phase.

OCIC says the new airport is planned to contain hotels, a convention center, office buildings, an ecological park as well as private housing, adding that it will be connected to the city by a motorway, and ultimately with an elevated rail line.

Koh Rong International Eco-Tourism Airport
Somewhat surprisingly, in early 2023, the news of Koh Rong International Eco-Tourism Airport was announced with the development expected to cost USD $300 million.

The project will be led by Royal Group Koh Rong Development Company, and the Koh Rong International Eco-Tourism Airport is expected to take five years to complete.

The Cambodian islands remain a key tourist destination for local and international travellers. Even though “Eco-Tourism” appears in the new airport’s name – it wont dissuade critics of the plan and how the project will potentially impact the environment and ecosystem which will be keenly monitored.

Mao Havannal, the Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Cambodian Civil Aviation confirmed that the development falls under the government approved framework of a multi-purpose joint venture for Koh Rong city.

Initial plans are for the airport to be a 4C class international airport, meaning that the airport can accommodate the larger aircraft for international long haul flights. The master plan anticipates passenger growth reaching 275,314 per year in Phase 1 (a ten-year phase), followed by 265,929 passengers in Phase II, and a limit of 531,858 passengers per year after the completion of its final development.

Dara Sakor International Airport
The Dara Sakor International Airport has experienced several delays after being initially announced in 2016, and the latest estimate is that operations will start in mid-2023.

The airport is being constructed near the Dara Sakor resort, in Koh Kong’s Botum Sakor district under a similar agreement to the Koh Rong International Eco-Tourism Airport, but in this case the Chinese-owned Union Development Group (UDG) are leading the project.

The airport is expected to be able to accommodate Code E aircraft (such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A340), with 4 helicopter terminals, and capacity for 7 million passengers and 10,000 tons of air cargo per year.

The airport covers 4.5 hectares and has an expected development cost of USD $350 million (although there has been no recent update taking into account the delays.)

What Do These Airports Mean For The Construction And Real Estate Sector?
Prime Minister Hun Sen recently said the new Siem Reap International Airport will play a major role in increasing the country’s economy and tourism when it opens in late 2023.

“This large-scale international airport will bring a boost to the economic development in our northern region, including the provinces of Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Kampong Thom, and Preah Vihear,” he said.

It goes without saying that the construction and development of the airports lead to a number of associated projects such as improved infrastructure, additional retail, F&B, accommodation etc – not only on-site but in the surrounding areas.

This will increase demand for cargo facilities, hotels, guest houses and other forms of short term accommodation, restaurants, cafes & bars, and the spillover from the construction of new improved transport links will see petrol/gas/EV charging stations, roadstop cafes and more.

Airports attract the need for industrial space, and specialised cold storage facilities, warehouses, data centres, mass food production facilities.

Cambodian international airports in 2023, serve 24 destinations and 11 countries which are not yet at the pre-pandemic level.

Once new airports come online, and new routes & destinations are added, with the support of well-placed advertising campaigns & additional quality tourist attractions, Cambodia could well be set for an unprecedented boon in tourism numbers and investment over the coming decade.

Source: khmertimeskh

The post New Cambodian Airports Bring the Kingdom into a New Era – Khmer Times appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.

BEIJING (AP) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen received multiple assurances of Chinese economic and political support during a meeting Friday in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“(China) firmly supports Cambodia in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, firmly supports Cambodia in steadily advancing major domestic political agendas and economic and social development, and resolutely opposes external forces interfering in Cambodia’s internal affairs,” Xi was quoted as telling Hun Sen by China’s official Xinhua News Agency.

China will also encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, help in the construction of the Sihanoukville economic zone in Cambodia’s southwest on the Gulf of Thailand, and support building transportation infrastructure, Xi said.

Hun Sen was quoted as thanking China for providing COVID-19 vaccines and said Cambodia “firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests” and “firmly opposes any external forces interfering in China’s internal affairs on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet.”

Cambodia is a key Chinese diplomatic partner, helping dampen criticism of Beijing within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, several of whose members are engaged in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

The meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guest House comes in the middle of Hun Sen’s three-day visit. He was to meet later with outgoing Premier Li Keqiang, after which the leaders were to oversee the signing of a raft of agreements.

Hun Sen took power in 1998 and with strong Chinese backing has eliminated all democratic threats to his rule, muzzling the press and locking up or exiling opponents and critics.

In return, China has gained an outsized role in Cambodian politics and the economy, as seen in the numerous Chinese-funded projects, hotels and casinos dotting the landscape.

China’s state banks have also financed airports, roads and other infrastructure built with Chinese loans. More than 40% of Cambodia’s $10 billion in foreign debt is owed to China, although Cambodia has not asked Beijing to restructure that burden, unlike other countries such as Sri Lanka, Zambia and Ethiopia, which have taken out massive Chinese loans.

Despite its small size, Cambodia has become an important partner for China, which was the top backer of the communist Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s whose radical policies are blamed for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

In June, China and Cambodia broke ground on a naval port expansion project that has raised concerns from the U.S. and others that it could give Beijing a strategically important military outpost on the Gulf of Thailand.

Hun Sen in 2019 reportedly granted China the right to set up a military base at the Ream Naval Base. He has long denied that, saying Cambodia’s Constitution prohibits foreign military facilities.

Source: AP News

The post Hun Sen’s Beijing visit garners support. appeared first on Tashkent Citizen.