DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia breaks ground for 3rd flyover in capital” plus 3 more

DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia breaks ground for 3rd flyover in capital” plus 3 more

Cambodia breaks ground for 3rd flyover in capital

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 09:45 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a 19-million-U.S.-dollar flyover in Phnom Penh's southwestern part to meet the growing number of vehicles.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said it will take 28 months to complete the construction of the 429-meter flyover.

"The sky bridge will not only help ease traffic congestion, but also uplift the beauty of the city," he said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The premier said that currently the city has more than one million motorcycles and nearly a million cars, buses and trucks.

It will be the third flyover in the kingdom. The first one was inaugurated in June 2010 and the second one opened to traffic in January 2012.

Cambodian King Father Sihanouk's body to be cremated on Feb. 4 next year: PM

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 07:56 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that the body of Cambodia's most revered former King Norodom Sihanouk will be cremated on Feb. 4, 2013 after lying in state for more than 3 months at the Royal Palace.

The King's body will be moved from the Royal Palace to a crematorium, built at the Meru field next to the Royal Palace, on Feb. 1 and kept for another 3 days at the crematorium before it is cremated, he said during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a flyover in Phnom Penh.

The premier reiterated the cancellation of the annual Water Festival, which was planned to celebrate on Nov. 27-29 on Tonle Sap River in front of the Royal Palace.

Water Festival is the largest annual festival in Cambodia. Around 3 million Cambodians, especially those from rural areas, flock to Phnom Penh to enjoy the regatta.

"It is impolite that the King Father's body lies in state at the Royal Palace, and millions of people come to enjoy the Water Festival," he said.

Sihanouk died of illness at the age of 90 in Beijing on Oct. 15 and his body was returned to Phnom Penh by Air China jumbo jet on Oct. 17.

After a week of mourning, his body has been exhibited for more than 3 months at the Royal Palace for the public to see and honor it before it is cremated.

Sihanouk ruled the country from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni.

He was the king who led the country to gain independence from France in 1953 and was named the father of independence, territorial integrity, and national reconciliation and unity.

He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for years before his death.

Bank of China launches educational fund for Cambodian students

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 07:55 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch on Sunday set up an educational fund, aiming at supporting poor students in Cambodia.

In the first phase, the fund will be provided to two Chinese schools in Cambodia. One is Duan Hua School and the other is Chhong Cheng Chinese School, said Chen Changjiang, chief executive officer of Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch, at the launching ceremony.

"This is the bank's contribution to developing education in Cambodia. The scholarships will be awarded to poor students," he said, adding that in the future, the fund will be expanded to other Chinese schools and universities in the country.

Duong Chhiv, president of the Chinese Association in Cambodia, hailed the bank for its special attention to education in Cambodia, saying that the fund is very important to integrate poor students into schools.

"The bank not only contributes to developing the Cambodian economy, but also assists the country's education," he said.

According to the association, there are 57 Chinese schools with more than 40,000 students throughout Cambodia at present.

The Bank of China is a state-owned public listed bank in China and is a leading commercial bank in the world.

The bank officially launched its operations in Cambodia in May last year.

Cambodia plans 3.1 bln USD for national expenses next year: minister

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 07:46 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia planned to allocate 3. 1 billion U.S. dollars, in equivalent to 19.8 percent of the country's GDP, for national expenses in 2013, a 12.9 percent rise year-on-year, finance minister Keat Chhon said Friday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the National Assembly, the minister said the budget will be focused on spending in general administration, national defense, security, social affairs, education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and economic development.

In 2013, the government will allocate some 400 million U.S. dollars toward the defense and security sectors, a 14.5 percent rise over last year's allocation, he said.

Social affairs spending in 2013 will reach 686 million U.S. dollars, up 12.8 percent, he added. In social affairs, the spending will be allocated to nine ministries including education, health, women's affairs, social affairs, labor, culture, information, religion and environment.

General administration will receive 275 million U.S. dollars, up 18 percent, while the economic sector including the ministries of agriculture, rural development, and water resources will get 148 million U.S. dollars, up 10 percent.

At the meantime, the government will continue providing a 20 percent pay raise to civil servants and armed forces in 2013, he said.

Cambodia's economy is expected to grow by 7 percent to 15.6 billion U.S. dollars this year, the minister said, adding that Cambodian per capita GDP will surpass 1,000 U.S. dollars in 2013, up from 909 U.S. dollars in 2011.

He said the country could get out of the classification of a low income country and become a lower middle income country in the near future.

Lower middle income countries are defined by the GDP per capita between 1,006 U.S. dollars and 3,975 U.S. dollars.

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