Keidanren, Japan's most powerful business organization, organized a 56 member

delegation to Cambodia from July 18-22. The delegation was made up of representatives

of some of Japan's largest corporations including Marubeni Corp., Chiyoda Corp.,

the Bank of Tokyo, ITOCHU, Hitachi Metals, Mitsubishi Corp., and the Sumitomo Corp.

The delegation's visit to Cambodia was part of a trip to the Mekong region - including

stops in China's Yunnan Province and the Lao PDR - designed "to broaden and

deepen economic cooperation through policy dialogue with the governments to promote

investment and possible cooperation with Japan's Official Development Assistance

(ODA) in collaboration with the Government of Japan and other aid-related organizations"

according to a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy.

Courtesy calls were made on First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Sihanouk and HE Ing

Kieth, Minister of Public Transport. Additional discussions were held with Ministers

Pou Sothirak, Chea Chanto, Tao Seng Hour and Secretary of State for Economy and Finance

Sun Chanthol.