Comment by the Information and Press Department on the upcoming visit to Russia by Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation the Kingdom of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn

1547-21-08-2017

On August 22-25, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation the Kingdom of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn will visit Russia. He will hold talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will attend the 10th meeting of the Russian-Cambodian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

During the talks, the ministers will hold in-depth discussion of the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for strengthening them in many areas, with the focus on the implementation of the agreements that have been recently reached at the top level. They will also coordinate their countries’ positions on current international and regional issues.

Russian-Cambodian relations have been growing consistently in the past few years. Their political dialogue and ties between their legislative authorities, ministries and agencies, as well as their leading political parties, are growing stronger.

The sides outlined the key priorities and practical tasks for the further development of their cooperation during the exchange of visits by the heads of the Russian and Cambodian governments in 2015 and 2016, as well as during a meeting between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen, which was held on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Sochi on May 19, 2016.

Russian-Cambodian relations are based on traditions of friendship and cooperation that date back many years. Last year, the sides marked the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, which were established on May 13, 1956. Russia has made a great contribution to Cambodia’s socioeconomic development and to its revival after the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge. Russia actively contributed to the preparation and signing of the Paris Peace Accords on a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia and to the UN peacekeeping operation in Cambodia in 1991-1993.

Russia and Cambodia coordinate their efforts at the UN and other multilateral organisations and forums based on their similar or identical views on the majority of current issue of the global agenda, primarily the creation of a new security and cooperation architecture in the Asian-Pacific region. Russia and Cambodia are set to carry on their cooperation, including at such venues as the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Plus), Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

New cooperation prospects were created in July 2015, when Cambodia received the status of Dialogue Partner at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and in May 2016, when the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Eurasian Economic Commission signed a memorandum of mutual understanding.

Russia and Cambodia are focused on promoting their trade, economic and investment cooperation. The leading role in these efforts belongs to the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission, which is co-chaired by Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov. Participants in the upcoming plenary session of the Intergovernmental Commission, which will be held in Moscow on August 23, will discuss the results of joint efforts to implement the decisions of the commission’s ninth meeting (Phnom Penh, March 2016) and will also set out a plan of practical actions to promote bilateral cooperation in priority areas.

In 2016, Russian-Cambodian trade increased by 30.2 per cent to $144.2 million. Russian exports to Cambodia, worth $7.8 million, mostly comprise machinery, equipment and transportation vehicles, foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials, timber, pulp and paper, and chemicals. Cambodian exports to Russia ($136.3 million) mostly comprise textiles, food products and agricultural raw materials. In January through May 2017, bilateral trade increased by 3.6 per cent and reached $53.8 million.

There is great potential for bilateral cooperation in energy, including nuclear energy, the mining and processing of mineral resources, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, and tourism.

The priority in the cultural sphere is promoting educational exchanges. At present, there are 80 Cambodian scholarship students at Russian civilian universities. Overall, over 8,000 Cambodian professionals have been trained in Russia during the years of the two countries' cooperation. The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Phnom Penh conducts cultural and public awareness activities. The parties are also working to develop ties between their young people.

The tourism sector has big potential: some 50,000 Russian tourists visited Cambodia in 2015 and 2016 each. This figure is expected to increase following the signing of an interdepartmental tourism cooperation programme for 2015-2017, which was signed in Moscow in March 2015, and an air transport services agreement that will facilitate direct flights between Russia and Cambodia, which was signed in Phnom Penh in November 2015.

The upcoming visit by a high-ranking Cambodian delegation to Russia will help strengthen practical interaction between the two countries, which fully meets their long-term interests and the goals of security and sustainable development in Southeast Asia and the Asian-Pacific region as a whole.

Bilateral relations

RUSSIAN-CAMBODIAN RELATIONS

Diplomatic relations with Cambodia were established on May 13, 1956. In December 1991, Cambodia recognised the Russian Federation as the USSR's legal successor. Later, Russia took an active part in efforts to unblock the Cambodian conflict, prepare and sign the Paris Peace Agreements (October 1991) and carry out the UN peacekeeping operation (1991−1993).

In 1995, the Joint Declaration on the Foundations of Friendly Relations, intergovernmental agreements on trade and economic ties and cultural and scientific cooperation, and a protocol on consultations between the foreign ministries were signed.

The two countries maintain regular political dialogue, including at the highest level. In November 2015, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Cambodia. In May 2016, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen paid a return working visit to Russia. A package of bilateral agreements was signed that related to air service, and culture, healthcare, investment and information exchanges, peaceful nuclear energy projects, curbing financial support to terrorism, military-technical cooperation, as well as interdepartmental agreements with the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Communications, Foreign Ministry and Interior Ministry, the Prosecutor General's Office, and a cooperation agreement between the national Olympic committees. Work is under way to inventory the legal foundations of Russian-Cambodian relations with regard to the bilateral agreements signed in 1956−1991.

Contacts between ministries and departments are gathering momentum. In 2015, deputy prime ministers, the Foreign Minister and the Interior Minister of Cambodia visited Russia, followed by visits from Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in 2016. The Russian and Cambodian foreign ministers held talks in Moscow in March 2015, October 2016 and August 2017.

Inter-parliamentary ties are growing deeper. In March 2016, a delegation from the Russian Federation Council under First Deputy Chair Nikolai Fedotov visited Cambodia. The Federation Council and the Senate of Cambodia signed an agreement on closer inter-parliamentary cooperation. In April 2016, a delegation from the National Assembly of Cambodia (NA) under NA President Heng Samrin visited Moscow.

In 1997, the Russian-Cambodian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (RCIC) was set up. RCIC held its tenth session in Moscow in August 2017.

In 2016, trade turnover between Russia and Cambodia hit $144.1 million (up 30.2 percent from 2015). Russian exports totalled $7.8 million (up 73.3 percent), imports – $136.3 million (up 28.3 percent). Machinery, equipment and transport vehicles account for the bulk of Russian exports (76 percent); other exports include food products and agricultural raw materials (7.8 percent), chemical products (3 percent). Imports – textiles (94.8 percent); machinery, equipment and transport vehicles (2.9 percent); food products and agricultural raw materials (1.1 percent).

Security and defence cooperation is being developed. In April 2016, a Russian Pacific Fleet squadron headed by the Admiral Vinogradov anti-submarine destroyer visited the Cambodian seaport of Sihanoukville.

Humanitarian ties have also been expanding. Eighty citizens of Cambodia are currently studying at Russian universities as part of state-funded federal education programmes. Prospects for broader interuniversity exchanges are being considered. In January 2013, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Russian Institute of Oriental Studies and the Royal Academy of Cambodia. In April 2016, the Moscow Technological University and the Phnom Penh Institute of Technology signed a cooperation agreement.

In October 2016, Days of Russian Culture were held in Phnom Penh as part of ceremonies marking the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of Russian-Cambodian diplomatic relations, followed by Days of Russian Cinema in December 2016.

The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Phnom Penh regularly hosts cultural and educational events.

In 2015−2016, the annual number of Russian tourists visiting Cambodia stood at around 50,000 (compared with more than 108,000 in 2014).

THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

THE KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

General information; This Southeast Asian state is situated in the south of the Indochinese Peninsula. It borders on Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and also the Gulf of Siam. Area – 181,035 square kilometres. Climate – tropical, monsoon. Two seasons – rainy (June−October) and dry (November−May). Population – 15.9 million, including Khmer (around 90 percent), Vietnamese (5 percent), Chinese (2 percent), and Chams, the mountain minorities. Official language – Khmer. State religion – Buddhism. Minority religions – Islam, Taoism, Christianity. Capital – Phnom Penh (1.7 million residents). Administrative divisions: 24 provinces and one direct-controlled municipality (Phnom Penh). National holiday – Independence Day (November 9), celebrates the end of French protectorate (1863−1953). National currency unit – riel (4,000 riels ≈ $1).

Political system: Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. Head of state – the King (since October 2004 – Norodom Sihamoni). Supreme legislative body – the bicameral parliament. Upper house –Senate (61 seats). The President of the Senate (currently Say Chhum) takes over as acting Head of State in the absence of the King. Lower house – the National Assembly (123 seats). Highest executive body – the Cabinet of Ministers headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Highest judicial authority – the Supreme Court. General control over justice is exercised by the Supreme Council of Magistracy (Chairperson – the King). The last election to the National Assembly was on July 28, 2013. The Cambodian People's Party received a majority and formed a new government. The municipal elections held on June 4, 2017 again put the ruling People's Party in the majority. The next parliamentary election is scheduled for July 2018.

Economy: In 2016, the GDP growth rate was 7.1 percent. Total GDP – $19.8 billion. Gold and currency reserves are estimated at $8.4 billion. Per capita income – $1,300. Inflation – 1.9 percent. Mineral deposits: iron ore, gold, gem stones, copper, tin, manganese, bauxite. Significant reserves of hydrocarbons have been discovered on the continental shelf in the Gulf of Siam. Agriculture is the most important economic sector (26.7 per cent of GDP) accounting for over 40 percent of the able-bodied population. Main food crop – rice, main technical crop – hevea. Other crops: maize, sweet potatoes, soybean, groundnuts, oil palm, spices. Key animal farming trend – cattle and pig breeding. Industrial production (29.8 percent of GDP) is represented mostly by garment manufacturers. The country is developing hydro-electric power generation. The growth of the service sector (main economic branch – 43.5 percent of GDP) is driven by the increasing influx of tourists. In 2016, Cambodia had 5 million tourists (total revenue – $3.4 billion). Main seaport – Sihanoukville, main river port – Phnom Penh. There are 12 airports, including 3 international airports – in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Cambodia has direct flights to Vietnam, Qatar, China, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines. In 2016, foreign trade totaled $22.3 billion (exports – $10 billion, imports – $12.3 billion). Chief exports: clothes, rubber, seafood, rice. Imports are dominated by oil products, automotive and electric equipment, construction materials, tobacco, alcohol. Main trade partners – ASEAN member states, the United States, the European Union, China, Japan, South Korea.

Foreign policy. Cambodia has been a UN member state since 1955. It has diplomatic relations with 42 countries as well as the EU and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Diplomatic priority – expanding the country's involvement in integration processes in the Asia-Pacific Region. In 1995, Cambodia signed the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. An ASEAN member state since 1999. In 2003, Cambodia entered the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In 2015, it received dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). In 2016, Phnom Penh singed a memorandum of understanding with the Eurasian Economic Commission. China is Cambodia's key strategic partner. Relations with Vietnam and Laos are also making good progress. The country is expanding its relations with Japan, South Korea, Russia, France and Germany.