Speaking at a graduation ceremony of Human Resources University held here this morning, Samdech Techo Hun Sen underlined that the Royal Government of Cambodia has no intention to write off this agreement, but to amend it for humanitarian and human rights principles.

“There is no annulation [of this agreement], but some amendments [to it]. We want the amendment in order to respond to the virtue, humanitarian and human rights principles. This agreement is a tragedy [for deported Cambodian-Americans]. This is a separation [from family] for life. They were repatriated here, but their wives and children are in the U.S. We just want this, we hope that the U.S government will understand this human rights principle,” he explained.

If they serve their jail term in the U.S., their families can visit them, and when they are free, they can live with their families, he added.

Cambodia and the U.S reached the repatriation deal in 2002.

According to the Returnee Integration Support Centre (RISC), an NGO that provides integration services to deported Cambodian-Americans, since 2002 some 530 Cambodians who were living legally in the U.S. have been deported after they were convicted.

By Khan Sophirom

While presiding over a graduation ceremony of the Asia Euro University held here this morning, the premier called on all Cambodian workers in the Republic of Korea and their relatives not worry about the situation there, stressing that the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and its officials have been paying close attention to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The RGC strongly believes that there will be no war on the Korean Peninsula, and the RGC will not evacuate the Cambodian workers there, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, explaining, “If we do so, we’d destroy our labour market as it’s like we run away from them (when they have problem).”

According to Prime Minister Hun Sen, there are currently more than 40,000 Cambodians working in the Republic of Korea.

By Khan Sophirom

H.E. Kao Kim Hourn, Delegate Minister Attached to the Prime Minister, told reporters after the meeting that Samdech Techo Hun Sen asked UNIDO to help encourage more investors to invest in Cambodia’s industrial sector, and promote the implementation of Cambodia Industrial Development Policy2015-2025, which is in line with the perspective of transforming Cambodia into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

The Cambodian premier also informed his guest of different stages of Cambodian economic development, from the planned economy to free market economy as well as of Cambodia Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025 that will create new jobs and contribute to the economic growth.

In reply, H.E. Li Yong congratulated the Royal Government of Cambodia on its development policy and strategies and pledged to boost the Cambodia-UNIDO partnership in increasing the volume of foreign direct investment in the Kingdom.

According to H.E. Kao Kim Hourn, H.E. Li Yong suggested Cambodia to set forth strategies so that the labour costs are not too high.

By Khan Sophirom