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Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Hun Sen returns to boost ties

Sandeep Dikshit

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Boosting ties: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived here on Friday for a state visit, five months after he had to cut short his visit following the death of the former Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, in July.

Apparently, Indian diplomacy has been successful in persuading New Delhi’s long-standing ally to visit the country after there were suggestions that the Cambodian delegation was miffed during the previous trip.

Indian diplomats had apparently failed to convince their Cambodian counterparts about their inability to observe the ceremonial part of the programme.

As a last ditch attempt, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong to explain that while official discussions, calls and meetings could take place as scheduled, the official banquet and other ceremonial programmes would stay cancelled due to state mourning. Cambodia, however, decided not to continue with the visit as Chandra Shekhar’s funeral coincided with the main engagement day.

Accompanied by a 12-member delegation, the visit is aimed at stepping up cooperation in the areas of defence, water resources, agriculture, petroleum and commerce, diplomatic officials said.

Mr. Hun Sen will call on President Pratibha Patil and Vice-President Hamid Ansari besides talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr. Mukherjee will also call on the Cambodian Prime Minister. Mr. Hun Sen will also visit Hyderabad.

Invites investment

Addressing the captains of Indian industry later, Mr. Hun Sen asked India Inc. to avail itself of the investment opportunities Cambodia offered in agriculture, IT and infrastructure, particularly in view of the liberal policy structure that allowed foreign firms to independently conduct business at a lower cost.

“We have adopted a liberal policy structure for economic development. We provide national treatment to foreign firms under which they enjoy the same rights as domestic investors,” he said.

On a four-day visit to India, Mr. Sen said firms could set up shop in Cambodia on their own and need not partner with a local company. Also in case of local participation, the foreign investor can choose the level of equity it wants to hold, he added.

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