Prime Minister Hun Sen departed Cambodia for Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday to attend the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia.
Following the conference, he is set to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss various bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest. Hun Sen is due to return from Japan on May 31.
The prime minister took to his official Facebook page, posting on Tuesday: “During my stay in Japan, I plan to meet His Excellency Abe … Both of us prime ministers will witness the signing of agreements to extend Japanese grant aid for two development projects in Cambodia. I will also meet with representatives of many other Japanese firms.”
The prime minister will deliver a keynote address under the conference’s theme In Search of the New Global Order – Overcoming the Chaos, and share his perspective on the current global context, future prospects, the way forward, and Cambodia’s commitment and contribution to promoting harmony, peace and shared prosperity in Asia, the Pacific region and the world.
The Facebook post said the first of the two funding extensions that Hun Sen and Abe will witness being signed is a 200 million yen ($1.83 million) grant to implement a socio-economic development programme involving the construction of a container freight station.
The second project, with a grant of 339 million yen, is for the implementation of the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan told The Post: “One can see potential investments with the belief that peace and stability reigns in Cambodian territory.
“It is time for Japan to turn [to the Kingdom] and invest in its industries, logistics, human resources and more.”
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability executive director San Chey said the terms and conditions of Japanese grants are not a cause for concern as Japan’s political system is different from Cambodia and China.
Japan is considered a developed nation which has helped other countries and served the needs of their peoples, Chey said.