Cambodian Minister of Information HE Khieu Kanharith on Friday led on-site inspections and provided guidance to the Asia-Pacific Times after an invitation from the online news platform’s chairman of the board of directors, Liu Yang.

Asia-Pacific Times is a media aggregation platform based in the Kingdom covering the Asia-Pacific region. It offers a full spectrum of news products, such as web media, news apps, social media and paper media. Committed to in-depth, serious and objective news reporting, AP Times is set to herald a new era in Cambodian-Chinese media.

Kanharith in a congratulatory letter said the Ministry of Information firmly believed that AP Times has the potential to become one of the Kingdom's premier news publications, one that will actively participate in reporting on Cambodian policy, politics, economy, trade, education, investment, tourism and culture.

He said he hoped that AP Times will contribute to the Kingdom’s national interests and to the promotion of Cambodia’s reputation internationally, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

AP Times CEO Li Tao expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Information for approving the platform’s launch.

AP Times was approved officially for publication by the Ministry of Information of Cambodia on July 21 this year. With the support and guidance of the Cambodian Ministry of Information, AP Times is to launch in September after three months of meticulous, well-planned and intensive preparations.

Li said that AP Times is set to be a new Chinese media force focusing on policies, economy, trade and Chinese investment in Cambodia and Southeast Asia, reporting to the world on the achievements and progress in the development of the Kingdom and the region in order to increase international awareness.

This increased awareness would increase tourism and investment levels in the Kingdom and promote the economic development of Cambodia, ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific, he said.

Li said AP Times had gathered together an array of top talent in assembling the editorial team, one that with the support and guidance of the Ministry of Information would responsibly and professionally report on all the news throughout Cambodia and the rest of the world.

Kanharith told AP Times on August 27 that he was very pleased to see the news platform’s launch, with Chinese media having been a part of Cambodia for some 20 years.

There are presently, not including the official Chinese website of the Ministry of Information, six mainstream Chinese media organisations and Chinese radio stations in the Kingdom, playing an important role in promoting the understanding of Cambodia among countries around the world.

During the inspection, Kanharith also accepted five tonnes of rice donated by the AP Times to the Ministry of Information. After expressing his gratitude, he again emphasised the importance of promoting Cambodia-China cooperation and exchange, as the strategic partnership between Cambodia and China continues to deepen and develop.

He also stressed the importance of growing the relationship between Cambodian and Chinese media in an effort to enhance non-governmental exchanges between the two governments.

Kanharith said he had high hopes for AP Times to bring Chinese and other international news to Cambodia. He encouraged the media platform to participate in reporting on current affairs in the Kingdom’s political, economic and cultural sectors, among others, and urged it to become a first-class Chinese-language media organisation in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

He also encouraged AP Times to promote Cambodia’s policies, laws, and regulations, and said he hoped that, in addition to actively advising and providing suggestions, it can become an important source of information for Chinese looking to learn about Cambodia.

Kanharith and his team – including Kem Gunnawadh, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Information; Ly Vannhong, the Director of the Department of Administration and Finance; and Phos Sovann, the Director of the Department of Information and Broadcasting – inspected the AP Times editorial room and other media departments.

Khim Vuthy, the Director of National Television of Kampuchea; Por Puthearith, the office Deputy Director of the National Television of Kampuchea; and Ouk Kampoul, the Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Broadcasting, were also in attendance.

AP Times CEO Li, deputy general manager Chen Yu Chun, editor-in-chief Zhao Xiaoyao, editor Jack Zhang and others accompanied the inspection.