DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “IFC to grant 10 mln USD loan to Vietnamese small, medium businesses” plus 9 more

HANOI, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Vietnam announced in capital Hanoi on Friday that it will provide a loan of 10 million U.S. dollars to the Oriental Commercial Bank (OCB) so that the latter can support operations of the small and medium import-export enterprises in the context of global tightened credit lending.

Simon Andrews, Director of IFC for Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, said IFC pledged to support banks to grant loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involving in import and export activities. The OCB is one of the first two banks in Vietnam to participate in IFC's financial support project, under which IFC will provide credits in U.S. dollars to support SMEs.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is an international financial institution which offers investment, advisory, and asset management services to encourage private sector development in developing countries. Over the past five years, IFC has granted more than 1 billion U.S. dollars to support Vietnamese SMEs.

BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday said it opposed the Philippines' plan to offer oil exploration contracts in the South China Sea, urging the country not to escalate tensions in the area.

"China has repeatedly lodged representations with the Philippines for their bidding out oil exploration contracts in some of the blocs which has violated China's interests," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin at a regular press briefing.

"Without permission from the Chinese government, oil exploration activities by any country or any company in waters under China's jurisdiction are illegal," said the spokesman.

Liu's comments came in response to a question regarding remarks of the Philippine Energy Undersecretary James Layug at the sidelines of an energy forum in Manila on Wednesday.

Layug was quoted by media as saying the Philippines will offer oil exploration contracts for the three blocs in the South China Sea on July 31, which are off the coast of the western Philippine island of Palawan.

According to James Layug, all reserves in that area belong to the Philippines and China had not objected to the plans to bid out the contracts for the three blocs.

"China urges the Philippines to adhere to the principal of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and not to take action that may lead to complication and escalation of tensions," Liu said.

The spokesman called on the Philippine side to make its due contribution to maintaining peace and stability of the South China Sea.

During the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Phnom Penh of Cambodia on Wednesday, China and ASEAN countries had discussions and reached consensus on the South China Sea issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said China calls for shelving disputes and seeking joint development on the South China Sea issue, and hopes all parties will do more to enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation for the formulation of a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN-U.S. Business Forum that is to kick off Friday evening here attracted the largest ever number of American business executives to seek business opportunities in thes Southeast Asian countries.

The ASEAN-U.S. Business Forum will bring together hundreds of cabinet ministers and senior policymakers from the U.S. and ASEAN governments, as well as business leaders from the U.S. and ASEAN, to address the opportunities and challenges that will define the direction of future U.S.-ASEAN economic cooperation, said a joint press release from the organizers, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmar President Thein Sein, and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will attend the forum, said the press release.

"The forum will be an opportunity for U.S. business leaders to strength economic ties with ASEAN and seek future economic cooperation between the U.S. and ASEAN," it said.

U.S. businesspeople have begun to look into ASEAN business potentials after the Obama administration has elevated the U.S' engagement across Asia as a strategic priority of its foreign policy.

"A central pillar of that strategy is to work more closely with ASEAN, to deepen our economic, strategic, and people-to- people engagement," Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday in the fourth ASEAN-U.S. Post-Ministerial Conference in Phnom Penh.

"The forum will be the largest ever delegation of American business executives to Cambodia, and it will be the first U.S.- ASEAN Business Forum to lay the groundwork for economic connections and mutual prosperity for a long time to come," she said. "On the economic front, there is much more room for us still to grow together, so we are working to foster more economic activity in very tangible ways."

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

BANGKOK, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, before departing Bangkok for a meeting in Cambodia on Friday, called on all parties to stay calm and accept the Constitution Court's verdict on the constitutionality of the charter amendment bill.

Asking the public not to resort to violence and act within legal limits, she said the government is duty-bound to continue working and asked all parties including the red shirts to wait for the court decision.

"Any move should be within the legal framework. Don't resort to any violence. Eventually, (I) believe all sides should be able to talk to each other as we are all Thais," she added.

The Constitution Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict around 3 p.m. local time. The judges will rule whether the bill to amend Section 291 of the Constitution contravenes Section 68.

The opposition claimed the ruling Pheu Thai Party's move to amend Article 291 to set up a drafting committee is tantamount to an attempt to topple the constitutional monarchy.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau deployed three companies of police to provide security and to keep order at the Constitution Court. Police reinforcements are possible depending on the situation. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa said the military is ready to reinforce police to cope with situation after the court ruling.

PHNOM PENH, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will withdraw some 486 military personnel from the Provisional Demilitarized Zone (PDZ) surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple next Wednesday in order to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Friday.

"We will withdraw some 486 troops from the PDZ on July 18 in order to abide by the ICJ's order issued on July 18 last year," he said in a press conference to conclude the 45th ASEAN meeting and related meetings at the Peace Palace.

He said the pullout is a sign to show the world that Cambodia is willing to comply with the World Court's order.

"Now, we move a step forwards to move back troops first even though the other side (Thailand) has subsequent pretexts to slow down its troop withdrawal from the PDZ," he said.

Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometer of scrub next to the temple.

Fierce clashes between the two sides' troops had happened in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.

The ICJ ordered on July 18, 2011 that Cambodia and Thailand must immediately withdraw their military personnel from the 17.3 square kilometer PDZ and refrain from any armed activity directed at that zone.

Also, it ordered both parties to allow ASEAN observers ( Indonesians) to access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.

PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Thursday said to the press after the ASEAN Regional Forum ( ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting that he believe the ASEAN related meetings have been productive and increased mutual understanding.

According to Yang, China's views and positions on issues of various fields have won the understanding and support from many other countries attending the meetings. Yang said he have had positive, meaningful meetings and contact with many ministers from ASEAN and other countries.

Yang said, "East Asian regional cooperation has achieved many important results over the years and made important contribution to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity, with China having also made tremendous effort towards this end."

The foreign minister also said, "in the face of acute impact of the international financial crisis and sluggish world economic recovery, it is all the more important for countries in the Asia- Pacific to strengthen unity and collaboration, expand and upgrade cooperation, enhance the internal drivers of growth and foster a better environment for regional stability and development."

Yang Jiechi arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday midnight for the week-long ASEAN ministerial level meetings, including the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 19th ARF.

The 19th ARF kicked off here at the Peace Palace on Wednesday afternoon, with foreign Ministers and representatives from 27 countries and ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan attending the meeting.

PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Countries in the Asia-Pacific region should enhance solidarity and deepen cooperation to advance peace, stability and development of the region, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here at the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers' Meeting Thursday.

Yang stated that despite the profound impact of the international financial crisis and sluggish recovery of the global economy, the Asia-Pacific region has maintained the momentum of robust growth and become an important driving force for world economic recovery and growth.

The achievements of this region are attributable to the generally peaceful and stable environment over the past decades and to the concerted efforts of all countries in the region.

"They should be cherished by us all," he noted.

But the region still faces quite a few challenges at the same time, he said, citing the fragile global economic situation and existing deep impact of the international financial crisis as the most salient ones.

According to him, the big development gap between Asian countries, growing resource and environmental constraints as well as grave non-traditional security challenges also overshadow the region's prospect in the 21st century.

"Given these circumstances, it is all the more important that countries in the region enhance solidarity and deepen cooperation to advance the overall interests of peace and stability and boost internal growth and consumption to sustain the development momentum," he emphasized.

Yang Jiechi arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday midnight for the week-long ASEAN ministerial level meetings, including the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 19th ARF.

The 19th ARF kicked off here at the Peace Palace on Wednesday afternoon, with foreign Ministers and representatives from 27 countries and ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan attending the meeting.

PHNOM PENH, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China calls for shelving disputes and seeking joint development on the South China Sea issue, and hopes all parties will do more to enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation for the formulation of a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC), visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here at the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting Thursday.

Yang pointed out that China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters is supported by ample historical and legal evidence. Yet given the complexity of the South China Sea issue, China has always called for shelving disputes and seeking joint development.

China and ASEAN countries had candid discussions and reached broad consensus on the South China Sea issue 20 years ago and signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in Phnom Penh ten years ago. An important principle of the DOC is to let sovereign states directly concerned resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means through friendly consultations and negotiations, Yang noted.

Yang also said China is "open" to launching discussions on COC on the basis of full compliance with the DOC by all parties, adding it is "essential that all parties exercise self-restraint in keeping with the spirit of the DOC, and refrain from taking moves that will escalate and complicate the disputes and affect peace and stability."

"China hopes that all parties will do more to enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, and create necessary conditions for the formulation of COC," Yang made the remark in response to the remarks by some countries at the meeting on the issue.

The foreign minister stressed that the South China Sea is an important shipping route for China as 60 percent of its external trade goes through it. Thus China attaches great importance to the freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea, and China will continue to work closely with the littoral countries to ensure smooth sea lanes in the South China Sea.

Yang Jiechi arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday midnight for the week-long ASEAN ministerial level meetings, including the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 19th ARF.

The 19th ARF kicked off here at the Peace Palace on Wednesday afternoon, with foreign Ministers and representatives from 27 countries and ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan attending the meeting.

BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical team has been sent to Cambodia to aid in alleviation of an outbreak of EV71, an intestinal virus, the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

The medical team arrived in Phnom Penh Thursday morning with medical supplies, the ministry said.

The ministry was informed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that a number of children have been infected by EV71 in several provinces of Cambodia since April, the statement said.

The Chinese team will assist Cambodian medical workers in analyzing the virus, treating patients, studying the epidemic and training local staff, the statement said.

They will share China's experience in coping with serious epidemics, it said.

More medical teams will be sent upon request from the Cambodian side, it added.

A severe form of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has killed 54 Cambodian children since April, according to a joint investigation by the Cambodian Ministry of Health, WHO, the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A majority of the victims tested positive for EV-71, which can cause hand, foot and mouth disease, according to a WHO statement.