DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Thailand marks ASEAN Dengue Day” plus 8 more

BANGKOK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Despite huge investments in infrastructure projects, the Mekong sub-region still lacks the necessary cooperative measure, such as a Cross Border Transportation Agreement (CBTA), to facilitate the free flow of goods and people in the area, experts said.

Alfredo Perdiguero, principal economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said that there are still substantial barriers to trade and the free movement of people in the countries comprising the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

Speaking at the two-day ASEAN Workshop on Cross-Border Management held here June 13-14, Perdiguero said that there is a need to transform infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges into "corridors for economic growth" and this can only be done by forging a cross-border agreement on transportation.

Somsak Wisetruangrot, chairman of the ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Associations, lamented that there has been no real cross border transportation agreement implemented in ASEAN, adding that most of the frameworks are on a bilateral or tripartite basis.

The CBTA, a multilateral instrument covering various aspects of cross border transport facilitation, has actually been initiated in 1999 to support trade facilitation in the GMS but so far only four of the six countries have ratified all the 10 annexes and protocols in the agreement.

The GMS includes Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southwestern part of China, specifically Yunnan and Guangxi.

Perdiguero said that the main cause of the failure of the GMS member countries to sign the CBTA is the lack of adequate capacity among national, provincial, and border officials in the sub-region.

In some cases, it is necessary for some countries to adjust their laws and regulations for the CBTA to be implemented, Perdiguero said.

In his opening remarks at the forum, Jullapong Nonsrichai, Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, said that while some progress has been made in many economic corridors and road links, such as the East-West, North-South and Southern Economic Corridors, there is still a lot to be done to increase mobility of goods and people.

Nonsrichai said that there is a need to harmonize laws and regulations of the countries in the sub-region in order to speed up the movement of goods and people across their common borders.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 (Xinhua) -- He Guoqiang, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived here Thursday from Phnom Penh for an official good-will visit to Malaysia in a bid to further enhance bilateral ties between the two nations.

He, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, distributed a written statement at the airport, applauding the robust growth of the bilateral relations since the two nations forged diplomatic relationship 38 years ago.

"The development of Sino-Malaysian relations not only generated substantial profits for the two peoples, but also played a positive role to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, " He said.

He also called on the two sides, both as developing countries, to continue to expand bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.

Malaysia is the third leg of He's four-nation tour after the CPC leader concluded his visits to the Laos and Cambodia. The trip will also take him to Russia.

PHNOM PENH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) He Guoqiang met here Wednesday with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni here Wednesday to discuss all- around bilateral cooperation.

He, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, expressed his appreciation to the Cambodian royal family who has made special contributions to the development of China-Cambodia ties, noting that the half- century close ties between King-Father Norodom Sihanouk and generations of Chinese leaders has nurtured profound friendship between the two nations and two peoples.

He recalled the successful visit paid by the Chinese president Hu Jintao in this March, noting the visit has paved way for the two nations to boost bilateral all-round strategic partnership.

Speaking highly of the Sino-Cambodian relations, He said the bilateral cooperation in the various fields serves to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and would help boost their national development as well as maintain the regional peace and stability.

"We would work closely with the Cambodian side to maintain the high-level mutual visits, expand trade cooperation, intensify humanitarian exchange and strengthen the bilateral coordination on significant regional and international issues," He pledged.

Agreeing with He's views on the bilateral relations, Sihamoni voiced his confidence that He's visit would further enrich the bilateral relations and the Cambodian royal family would remain committed to further promote the bilateral ties to a higher level.

The King also expressed his thanks to the Chinese government for taking good care of his King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.

Visiting as a guest of the CPP and the Funcinpec Party, He arrived in Phnom Penh for a three-day good-will visit on Tuesday. Cambodia is the second leg of his four-nation tour which had already brought him to the Laos and will take him to Malaysia and Russia.

PHNOM PENH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has begun banning tourists from smoking cigarettes while they are visiting the inside complex of the Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the world heritage sites, officials said Thursday.

"We have informed our staff and tour guides to inform visitors not to smoke while they are exploring the temples," Sok Leakna, deputy director general of Apsara Authority, which is the body in charge of protection and management of the Angkor Archaeological Park, told Xinhua over telephone.

With the prohibition, the temples will be smoke-free and cleaned from cigarette ashes, he said, adding that non-smoking visitors will not be affected.

Sok Leakna said as the ban has just introduced, so there is no plan to fine the violators.

"Smoke banning at the temples is very good to prevent the temples from smoke and cigarette ashes," Minister of Tourism Thong Khon told Xinhua over telephone, adding that about 5,000 foreign tourists visit the temples everyday and the number is forecast to double in 2020.

"It will not pollute nonsmokers," he said.

Siem Reap's Angkor Archeological Park is the country's largest cultural tourism destination. It is located some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

An entrance fee to visit the temples is 20 U.S. dollars a day for a foreign visitor, 40 U.S. dollars for a three-day visit and 60 U.S. dollars for a week-long visit.

Last year, the temples attracted 1.6 million foreign visitors, an increase of 23 percent.