By Ek Tha
PHNOM PENH, 21 February 2013 (PRU) – Cambodia and Japan celebrated the Kizuna (Friendship) Festival by announcing that their “bilateral relations are not limited to the political, economic and development fields” and that they both “value the importance of cultural exchanges”.
CULTURE
The second Kizuna Festival marked the 60th anniversary of friendship between the two Asian kingdoms. The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1953, the year of Cambodia’s independence.
More than 300 people—including foreign diplomats and students—turned up at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre, where Cambodian and Japanese artists rocked the stage from 21- 23 February with their drums and traditional musical instruments.
Ms. Sachie Asano and friends entertained the audience with the beautiful sound of “Shamisen”, a traditional Japanese instrument, and a unique collaboration with Cambodian drum performers.
“This Kizuna Festival features the demonstration of many Japanese cultural and artistic performances in close collaboration with Cambodian people”, said the outgoing Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency Masafumi Kuroki. The two countries have maintained strong ties and friendship, especially in the past two decades.
The anniversary was a good opportunity to look forward to what they need to do in order to build on past assets, said the diplomat, added that both sides agreed to organise various cultural and exchange programs throughout the year to promote mutual understanding.
His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, hailed both countries’ cultural heritage as an essential source of identity deeply rooted in the past.
He said, “It is vital to gain knowledge of other cultures, as it not only helps us to understand our own culture but can also expand our relationship with others”.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on people to keep an open mind and share the values and power of culture, which will promote understanding of each other to strengthen the relationship of the two nations.
He also praised Tokyo for its continuing efforts to introduce new festivals and opportunities for the two peoples to exchange cultural experiences and ideas.
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that Japan is also co-chair with France of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor, established in 1993, which paved the way for successful international collaboration with the Apsara National Authority over the last 20 years.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Japan actively fostered Cambodia’s stability and development through economic cooperation in building physical infrastructures, human resource development and preservation of the Angkor temples.
Cambodia welcomes the increasing number of investors and businesses which provides greater employment opportunities for the local youth.
Tokyo has been one of Cambodia’s key donor partners. Japan’s assistance is of three types: general grants, technical cooperation and loans.
Japanese grants for Cambodia totalled $301.41 million in 2010-12, technical cooperation was $280.844 million in 2005-12, and loans were $139.3 million in 2010-12.
“All these projects and activities cannot be successful without the understanding and appreciation of the cultures of both nations”, said Dr. Sok An.
Japan also played a key role in bringing the warring Cambodian factions to sign the Paris Peace Agreements in 1991. Since the Japanese Peace Keeping corps were despatched to Cambodia in 1992, Japan has not only extended its diplomatic efforts for the restoration of peace and stability, but also made available a significant portion of its ODA resources in supporting the physical and social rehabilitation of war-torn Cambodia.
Tokyo has made the largest of budgetary contribution to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, having contributed more than $79 million, or 44 per cent of the ECCC’s total funding since 2006.
The ECCC’s mission is to try the top leaders of Democratic Kampuchea regime responsible for the death of more than 2 million people from 1975 to early 1979.
TRADE & INVESTMENT
Economic relations between Japan and Cambodia have steadfastly increased thanks to the improvement of investment climate in Cambodia.
Bilateral trade was more than $500 million in 2011 and reached $479 million for the first six months of last year, while Japanese investment in Cambodia grew from $120 million in 2011 to nearly $250 million last year. END.