The United States expressed disappointment that Cambodia is tearing down a U.S.-funded building used for a maritime security program, and voiced concern that the action may be linked to the possible use of a Cambodian naval base by China’s military. Cambodia’s government officially denied suggestions that its demolition of a U.S.-funded facility at one of its naval bases is a signal that China will be granted basing privileges there, saying the work only involves planned infrastructure improvements.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen defended the country’s right to expand a naval base in his first public comments following criticism from Washington over the demolition of U.S.-funded buildings at the facility and amid reports that the development is being funded by China.
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Thailand and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through various bilateral cooperation projects, such as those concerning public health along their border areas.
Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng met with US ambassador Patrick Murphy to discuss cooperating on repatriation after it had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Murphy requested the two countries find a possible way to continue carrying out this work, according to a Facebook post by Sar Kheng.
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Japan has pledged an assistance of about 25 billion yens to support Cambodia’s development in many areas including the health sector.
The government of Cambodia has begun a feasibility study into a rail link from Phnom Penh to Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), according to reports in The Phnom Penh Post.
The Kingdom’s poverty and unemployment rate could nearly double to 17.6 percent and 4.8 percent respectively because of the impact of the pandemic, according to the UNDP’s economic and social impact assessment of COVID-19 in Cambodia.https://bit.ly/33Jez2Y; https://bit.ly/3nCfsCj;
