CHINA / Wen in Cambodia

China to pledge more aid to Cambodia
(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-07 14:14

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia will benefit greatly from a visit by
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the Cambodian prime minister said Friday.

Wen was to pledge more aid for the impoverished Southeast Asian country
during his two-day visit, which was scheduled to begin later Friday.

Wen and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen were to witness the signing of
11 bilateral agreements, including a low-interest loan, grant aid and the
donation of 30 fire trucks by the Chinese government.

Wen also was scheduled to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for a
Chinese-funded office complex for Hun Sen and his deputies before
wrapping up his visit on Saturday.
"Cambodia will benefit greatly from this visit," Hun Sen told reporters
Friday.

Hun Sen has described the giant Asian power as Cambodia's "most
trustworthy friend."

In return, Beijing has rewarded his government with millions of dollars
in aid over the last decade, agreed to write off past debts and granted
it tariff-free status for some 400 items.

Investments by Chinese companies were worth some US$240 million (euro195
million) last year, more than from any other nation. Most Chinese
investments were in the garment industry, Cambodia's main foreign
exchange earner.

"For Hun Sen, China is the perfect ally in comparison to the West," said
Julio Jeldres, retired King Norodom Sihanouk's official biographer.

Wen's Cambodia visit is the last leg of a four-nation tour that also took
him to Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.

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