Dec 25: Agence Khmere de Presse reported: Japanese charities agreed to donate

450,000 yen to the Cambodian Mine Action Center.

Dec 25: Agence Khmere de Presse reported: The Asian Development Bank (ADB)

opened an office in Phnom Penh Dec 18 and will be represented by Someth Suos. The

ADB is the largest multilateral aid agency in Cambodia and was the first to extend

a loan to the country after the 1993 UN sponsored elections. Since then it has provided

nine loans totaling $246 million and expects to provide a further $85 million each

year for the next three years.

Dec 26: The Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace held a seminar

on Cooperation for the Participation of the CLV Countries into Asean. Organized by

the Japanese Embassy, it included talks on the economics of Asean membership by Japanese

Professors Motoyoshi Suzuki and Osamu Nariai.

Dec 26: Agence Khmere de Presse reported: The president of the Japan-Cambodia

Cultural and Economic Exchange Association, Mr Wasuke Muyake, told National Assembly

chairman Chea Sim that Japanese companies would boost investment in Cambodia focusing

on pharmaceuticals, forestry and the mining of Mekong river sand.

Dec 27: Agence Khmere de Presse reported: The highest malaria rates ever

recorded in Indochina are devastating villages in Cambodia's northeastern forests,

according to an AFP report. In Ka Chok village in Ratanakiri province, 41 percent

of all villagers and 60 percent of children were infected by malaria parasites, according

to a World Health Organization official. Another health official stated other villages

in the area would be suffering to the same extent.

Dec 28: The European Union (EU) introduced a new Social Science curriculum

for primary schools with a demonstration of new teaching materials. The curriculum,

according to the EU, includes Khmer traditional music, dance and crafts and will

be taught using 5,000 new cassette players and 300,000 textbooks.

Dec 30: Agence Khmere de Presse reported: A delegation from Finland arrived

Dec 29 on a four day official visit. The delegation of businessmen led by Finland's

Minister for Environment and International Development Cooperation Pekka Haa Yisto,

met senior politicians and officials from the Phnom Penh Chamber of Commerce.

Jan 3: The Thai Embassy announced a donation of 110 tons of rice to assist

those affected by flooding during last year's wet season. The rice was delivered

to the National Disaster Management Committee at Poipet Dec 16 and has been distributed,

according to an embassy statement.