US ambassador meets Hun Sen ahead of Clinton’s arrival

PHNOM PENH, 3 July 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - US Ambassador William Todd met Prime Minister Hun Sen Tuesday ahead of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's arrival in Phnom Penh for the ASEAN Regional Forum next week.

Ieng Sophalet, Hun Sen’s assistant, told reporters after the meeting that Todd outlined his goal of expanding and reinforcing bilateral relations.

The ambassador was also quoted as saying that he hoped to encourage US business leaders to invest in Cambodia, share information with Cambodian government ministries and improve relations between young people of the two countries.

Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Todd for promoting investment  in Cambodia and also thanked the American people and government for their assistance, Ieng Sophalet said.

In his weekly column in The Cambodia Herald Sunday, Todd said the United States was "honored" to support Cambodia in its role as the current chair of ASEAN.

"We look forward to Secretary Clinton’s imminent arrival to participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum on July 12," he said.

Todd said Clinton would also take part in the US-led Lower Mekong Initiative Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy Dialogue and a US-ASEAN Business Forum in Siem Reap.

The policy dialogue "will bring together leaders from throughout the region to share best practices on empowering women and girls," he said. The business forum will meanwhile "address the opportunities and challenges that will define the future of US-ASEAN economic cooperation."

"This is truly an exciting time for the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the United States is proud to be a part of it," the ambassador said.