Daily Update from Local Newspapers July 6-8, 2013

1.                   Politics/Human Rights

2.                 Diplomatic Issue

3.                 Economy/Development

4.                 Korea’s interest in Cambodia

Korea to Provide Additional 200 Million USD in Loan to Cambodia to Help Improving Infrastructure and Dam Project for Four Years

On 10 July 2013, at 9AM, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, PM Hun Sen will preside over the signing ceremony between H.E. Hor Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E. Kim Han Soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia for the framework arrangement concerning loans from economic development cooperation fund (EDCF) from the year 2013 to 2016 between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Royal Government of Cambodia with the amount of 200 million USD for the implementation of the four project, said the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The four projects are:

1.      Project for rehabilitation of national road No. 2 and national road No.    22.

2.      Project for rehabilitation of national road No. 48

3.      Dauntri multipurpose dam development project between Battambang and Pursat province

4.      Project for improvement of rural roads on phase 2 in 9 provinces including Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, Kompong Chhnang, Kompong Speu and Takeo province. (Rasmei Kampuchea, 6 July 2013)

Four Cambodian Youths to Attend the Final Round of K-POP World Festival in South Korea

Four Cambodian youths (one male and 3 female) were awarded first prize in the singing and dancing competition of K-POP Festival, and they have an opportunity to attend the final round of K-POP Festival in the Republic of Korea on 20 October 2013, at Changwon City, with the presences of 44 candidate countries. The festival was held on 5 July 2013, at Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center (CKCC), and a young girl named Khiev Sodarath, aged 19, was awarded first prize in the singing competition, while the other 3 persons (siblings) were awarded first prize in the dancing competition. The event was organized with the aim of further strengthening the relationship, unity, and cooperation between both countries and nations, especially the Korean and Cambodian youths, said H.E. Kim Han Soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia. According to Mr. Lee Yoon Seok, First Secretary to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cambodia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Changwon Municipality, and KBS World TV will organize the final round of K-POP World Festival 2013 on 20 October 2013, at Changwon City, with the presences of 44 candidate countries. Besides, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea will also organize the final round of Quiz on Korea in Seoul on 9 September 2013, with the presences of 30 candidate countries. (Rasmei Kampuchea, 7-8 July 2013)