Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday led a delegation of businessmen and top government officials to join the eighth China-ASEAN expo and investment summit to be held in Nanning, China, from October 21 to October 26.

The Cambodian prime minister planned to meet his Chinese counterpart Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations and trade, delegate member and senior minister Srey Thamrong told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport yesterday, before departing for Nanning.

“This is a very important event, it will promote Cambodian products to world markets and encourage more investors from China and ASEAN countries to invest in Cambodia,” Srey Thamrong said.

A total of 4,600 exhibition booths will be present at the expo, of which 90 are set to display Cambodian products represented by about 75 local companies, he said.

Other exhibitors will hail from Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, Finland and Nepal, Srey Thamrong added.

The 250 plus-strong delegation comprised senior government officials, Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia Sok Chenda, Secretaries of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance Aun Porn Moniroth and Ouk Rabun.

No specific details regarding the meeting or the Cambodia companies participating were available late yesterday.

Representatives at the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh told the Post they were also unable to provide any information regarding the encounter as the meeting was still underway.