Khmer Times/Ven Rathavong Wednesday, 27 July 2016
While many in the region have questioned Cambodia’s stance of supporting China over the South China Sea disputes at the ongoing Asean meeting in Laos, few will be surprised at the outcome of a quieter, less publicized meeting yesterday in Beijing.
At an official meeting in the Chinese capital yesterday between National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Mr. Samrin asked for Chinese help to build a 12-story administration building at the National Assembly in Phnom Penh.
“In that meeting, Samdech Heng Samrin asked the National People’s Congress to build an administration building for the National Assembly of Cambodia which has 12 floors,” a press release from the National Assembly said yesterday.
According to the press release, both sides also discussed enhancing cooperation between the legislative organizations in both countries.
The release added that Mr. Zhang agreed to receive the request for the 12-story building and called for proposals from the government.
Unsurprisingly, both sides also agreed with the two governments’ stance on the issue of the South China Sea.
Recently, after a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Mr. Hun Sen said China would give almost $600 million as grant aid to Cambodia for development between 2016 and 2018.
That aid will be used for “electoral processes, health, education, clean water and wells,” he said.
Mr. Zhang said yesterday that China had contributed to developing Cambodia through the government to improve Cambodian people’s livelihoods.
China will continue to support and contribute to developing Cambodia in all sectors, he said.
National Assembly spokesman Leng Peng Long could not be reached for comment yesterday. Mr. Samrin and his delegation will be on their official visit to China until Friday.
However San Chey, the executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, told Khmer Times that any requests for help should be carefully considered before asking for aid from other countries.
“The current buildings at the National Assembly are suitable for administration. We should request aid which provides for the common interest,” he said, adding that if the National Assembly worked more efficiently it would not need a new building.
“The National Assembly should have a building and organize monthly or annual meetings for lawmakers and citizens to meet and discuss issues with each other, in order to resolve citizens’ concerns,” Mr. Chey said, pointing out that asking for aid from other countries affected Cambodia’s reputation on the international stage.
Cambodia’s stance of supporting China at the ongoing Asean meeting in Laos was welcomed by officials from Beijing, but criticized by other Asean member countries involved in disputes in the South China Sea.
There was no mention of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling in the dispute between the Philippines and China in any of the Asean statements coming out of the ongoing meeting in Laos, reportedly much to the annoyance of the Philippines and Vietnam, but a draft of the Asean chairman’s statement does go into some detail about the South China Sea.
According to a draft of the chairman’s statement, “The ministers discussed developments in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in and over-flight over the South China Sea.
“The Ministers emphasized the need for Asean member states and China to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and welcomed Asean member states and China’s efforts to work towards the early adoption of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).”
The chairman of the meeting, officially known as The 6th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, was Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.