Communiqué du Département de l'information et de la presse du Ministère russe des Affaires étrangères concernant la visite en Russie de Hor Namhong, Vice-Premier ministre et Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération du Cambodge

355-01-03-2015

À l'invitation du Ministre russe des Affaires étrangères Sergueï Lavrov, Hor Namhong, Vice-Premier ministre et Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération du Royaume du Cambodge, se rendra en Russie du 2 au 4 mars pour une visite de travail.

À l'heure actuelle, les relations russo-cambodgiennes se développent progressivement, le dialogue politique se renforce ainsi que les contacts entre les organes législatifs, les ministères, les départements et les partis politiques des deux pays. Au cours de la rencontre du Premier ministre russe Dmitri Medvedev avec le Premier ministre cambodgien Hun Sen à Naypyidaw le 12 novembre 2014, en marge du 9e Sommet de l'Asie de l'Est, les axes prioritaires du partenariat bilatéral ont été définis et des objectifs concrets pour le faire progresser ont été fixés.

Pendant les négociations prévues le 4 mars, Sergueï Lavrov et Hor Namhong examineront en détails l'état et les perspectives d'élargissement de la coopération bilatérale dans les domaines pratiques, avec un accent sur la mise en œuvre des accords des chefs des gouvernements à Naypyidaw. Ils compareront également leurs positions sur les questions internationales et régionales stratégiques.

À l'issue de cette rencontre sera signé le Plan de consultations entre le Ministère russe des Affaires étrangères et le Ministère cambodgien des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération pour la période 2015-2017.

Une composante importante des relations bilatérales est la coordination des efforts au sein de l'Onu et d'autres organisations et forums internationaux, basée sur la convergence des positions de la Russie et du Cambodge sur de nombreux sujets figurant à l'agenda mondial, avant tout concernant la formation d'une nouvelle architecture de la sécurité et de la coopération dans la région Asie-Pacifique.

Des mesures sont également adoptées pour renforcer les liens commerciaux et économiques. La Commission intergouvernementale russo-cambodgienne pour la coopération commerciale, économique, scientifique et technique joue un rôle clé dans ce processus. Dans le cadre de sa visite, Hor Namhong participera à la 8e réunion de la Commission intergouvernementale, dont la partie russe sera présidée par le Ministre des Communications et des Médias Nikolaï Nikiforov. La prochaine réunion de la Commission vise à élaborer un programme d'action précis pour doter la coopération bilatérale d'un contenu pratique important.

À la fin de l'année 2014, le volume des échanges commerciaux entre la Russie et le Cambodge s'élevait à 132,7 millions de dollars, dont 3,8 millions de dollars d'exportations russes (livraisons de produits alimentaires, de matières premières agricoles, de produits chimiques, de voitures, d'équipements et de moyens de transport) et 128,9 millions de dollars d'importations (des textiles et des chaussures). Le potentiel d'accroissement de la coopération commerciale et du partenariat d'investissement dans les domaines de l'énergie, de l'industrie minière et du traitement des ressources minérales, de l'agriculture, de l'aviation civile, des télécommunications et du tourisme est important.

Des mesures sont mises en place pour élargir la coopération dans le domaine de l'enseignement, ainsi que des échanges culturels et académiques. Actuellement, environ 100 étudiants cambodgiens font leurs études dans des établissements d'enseignement supérieur russes, y compris aux frais du budget fédéral. La langue russe est enseignée à Phnom Penh à la base du Centre russe de la science et de la culture.

Le Cambodge gagne en popularité en tant que destination touristique parmi les Russes. En 2014, 130 000 Russes ont visité ce pays.

Les relations entre la Russie et le Cambodge se basent sur de longues traditions d'amitié et de coopération. Le 13 mai 2016, les relations diplomatiques entre les deux États fêteront leurs 60 ans. Notre pays a apporté une contribution significative au développement du Cambodge et a accordé son aide à sa renaissance après le renversement du régime de Pol Pot (1975-1979). La Russie a activement participé à la préparation et à la conclusion des Accords de paix de Paris sur le Cambodge et à la conduite de l'opération de maintien de la paix sous le commandement de l'Onu en 1991-1993. Les objets de l'infrastructure économique et sociale, restaurés et construits à Phnom Penh par les spécialistes soviétiques, y compris l'hôpital de l'amitié soviéto-khmer et l'institut technologique, sont des symboles apparents du partenariat étroit entre les deux pays.

La visite du Ministre cambodgien des Affaires étrangères en Russie vise au renforcement des tendances positives dans les relations bilatérales, à la consolidation de leur nature de partenariat fiduciaire, ce qui répond pleinement aux intérêts à long terme de nos pays et aux objectifs de sécurité et de développement durable dans la région Asie-Pacifique.

1er mars 2015

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.