Japan-Cambodia Bilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Dinner Party

February 15, 2007

On February 13 (Tue), Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a Japan-Cambodia Bilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting and a Dinner Party with H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. The gist of the talks is as follows.

1. Opening Statement

Mr. Aso extended congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia to Japan and said that he would like to strengthen cooperation with Cambodia, which is at the forefront of the "Arc of Freedom and Prosperity" based on universal values such as freedom, democracy, and basic human rights.

2. Economic Cooperation and Economic Relations

Mr. Aso stated that Japan regarded the Mekong Region including Cambodia as a priority area for economic cooperation and would expand its ODA for the next three years. He conveyed to H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong that the Government of Japan had decided to provide a yen loan amounting to about 2.6 billion yen for the Greater Mekong Power Network Development Project (Cambodia Growth Corridor). H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong expressed appreciation for Japan's assistance including that for the Second Mekong Bridge. The two Ministers agreed on an early conclusion of a Japan-Cambodia Bilateral Investment Agreement.

3. Khmer Rouge Tribunal

Mr. Aso stated that he hoped the Royal Government of Cambodia to show leadership for expedited and fair implementation of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. In response, H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong gave an account of the progress of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

4. North Korea

Mr. Aso explained the results of the Six-Party Talks to Mr. Hor Namhong. Mr. Hor Namhong said that he welcomed the good results of the Six-Party Talks and that the nuclear issue of North Korea is a problem not only of the six parties but also of the whole region. Mr. Aso highly evaluated the fact that Cambodia had pledged to support this year's resolution on the situation of human rights in North Korea at the Japan-CLV Foreign Ministers' Meeting last month.

(Note: Cambodia abstained on the resolution last year)

(END)

Back to Index