Cambodian, Russia Further Bilateral Trade

By Soy Sophea

Cambodia and Russia reached a bilateral trade, up from US$21.2 million in 2008 and US$3 million in 2003, according to Russian diplomat officers, speaking during a meeting with the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Hor Namhong, Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on April 22 in Phnom Penh.

Koy Kuong, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said he considered progress in the bilateral relationship to be a positive step
Kuong said Russia’s major exports to Cambodia include paper, machinery, spare parts of vehicles and airplanes while Cambodia exports about US$1 million worth of clothing to Russia per year.

He continued to say that Cambodia would try its best to support Russia to get candidacy to attend ASEM (ASEAN EU Meeting), as Cambodia had played the role of co-coordinator for ASEM.

Namhong also pledged his support of Russia joining the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). And Hor Namhong also thanked Russia for being train hundred of Cambodian students during the 1980s when Cambodia was blocked economically and politically after the deliberation of Khmer Rouge regime.

Kuong quoted the two leaders of Cambodia and Russia as saying that they have enjoyed their fundamental relationship in past years and promised to support each other on the international stage in the future. Russian Ambassador Valery Tereshchenko also thanked Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce for supporting Russia to be a membership of World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007.

Tereshchenko, who will finish his term in Cambodia soon, said Kuong, adding that Namhong invited the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit Cambodia at any convenient time.
Namhong urged the Russian government to continue its assistance to Cambodia in human resources, Kuong added. Russian investors have invested more than US$500 million in Cambodia’s island Koh Pous (Snake Island) in Sihanouk province, said Kuong.