Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem (L) shook hand with Cambodia's Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (R) during the signing ceremony in Preah Sihanouk province on 4th December.By Khmerization
Cambodia and Vietnam have on 4th December signed 26 co-operation agreements, including the agreements to conclude land border demarcations by 2012 and the agreements to provide land concessions to Vietnamese companies to develop rubber plantations in Cambodia, reports Radio free Asia.
Mr. Oung Sean, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the agreement were signed by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Preah Sihanouk province on 4th December. "We are making great effort to find 100,000 hectares of lands to fulfill Vietnam's request. Most importantly, (the agreements) are related to border issues. We are trying to finish the job of border demarcations between the two countries by 2012. Our industries have co-operations on the issues of electricity along the Sesan II River", he said.
He said Cambodia also agreed to extend tourist visas to Vietnamese nationals from 14 days to 30 days and extending working visas for Vietnamese nationals to one year.
These agreements drew strong criticsm from the opposition parties. Mr. Kem Sokha, leader of the opposition Human Right Party, said Cambodian government leaders seem to make great commitments with Vietnam at the same time as Cambodia having border and diplomatic problems with Thailand. He also said that most of the agreements seem to create disadvantages rather than providing benefits to Cambodia. "If we don't have enough lands (for our people) and we also know how to grow rubber trees, why can't we grow rubber trees by ourselves and why do we need to let the Vietnamese grow them (on our soil)? On the issue of the visa extensions, to extend a visa for the Vietnamese to stay longer in Cambodia can be dangerous too because Cambodia is in shortage of jobs and Cambodia is not a labour market", he said.
The government dismissed the opposition's criticism and said the co-operations between the two countries are good for both countries and promised to continue future co-operations with Vietnam.
Cambodia and Vietnam have on 4th December signed 26 co-operation agreements, including the agreements to conclude land border demarcations by 2012 and the agreements to provide land concessions to Vietnamese companies to develop rubber plantations in Cambodia, reports Radio free Asia.
Mr. Oung Sean, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the agreement were signed by Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Preah Sihanouk province on 4th December. "We are making great effort to find 100,000 hectares of lands to fulfill Vietnam's request. Most importantly, (the agreements) are related to border issues. We are trying to finish the job of border demarcations between the two countries by 2012. Our industries have co-operations on the issues of electricity along the Sesan II River", he said.
He said Cambodia also agreed to extend tourist visas to Vietnamese nationals from 14 days to 30 days and extending working visas for Vietnamese nationals to one year.
These agreements drew strong criticsm from the opposition parties. Mr. Kem Sokha, leader of the opposition Human Right Party, said Cambodian government leaders seem to make great commitments with Vietnam at the same time as Cambodia having border and diplomatic problems with Thailand. He also said that most of the agreements seem to create disadvantages rather than providing benefits to Cambodia. "If we don't have enough lands (for our people) and we also know how to grow rubber trees, why can't we grow rubber trees by ourselves and why do we need to let the Vietnamese grow them (on our soil)? On the issue of the visa extensions, to extend a visa for the Vietnamese to stay longer in Cambodia can be dangerous too because Cambodia is in shortage of jobs and Cambodia is not a labour market", he said.
The government dismissed the opposition's criticism and said the co-operations between the two countries are good for both countries and promised to continue future co-operations with Vietnam.
2 comments:
The tourist visa extension is ok, but the working visa extension and land concessions for Vietnam's rubber plantations are bad.
Many Cambodians do not have jobs, many went to Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and the Middle East to work, so why Cambodia issue working visas to Vietnamese workers? I heard that Vietnamese construction workers in Cambodia, doing the same jobs as Cambodian workers, earn more than Cambodian workers.
Land concessions for rubber plantations, I am concerned that these lands will become Vietnamese territories in the future because most of them are located on the borders with Vietnam. With a good history of encroachments on Cambodian territories by Vietnam, these land concessions to Vietnamese rubber plantation companies are a bit suspicious and a bit of a concern.
Opposition party members must do whatever they can to protect khmers territories and integrity. If they don't, the Sadam Hun Sen govt will sell everything to foreign countries. Will Sadam Hun Sen and his govt responsible for their deeds in the future just like Pol Pot killed 1.7 million innocent khmers?
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