January 30, 2023 – Page 4 – Cambodia News Gazette

January 30, 2023

Cambodia’s Ruling Party Fully Supports Hun Sen As PM Candidate For General Election

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), concluded its extraordinary congress yesterday, voicing its full support for the candidacy of incumbent Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, to run for a new five-year term in the July election.

The extraordinary congress “fully supports Samdech Techo Hun Sen as the Prime Minister candidate, for the seventh legislature of the National Assembly and supports His Excellency Hun Manet, as the future Prime Minister candidate,” said a party’s resolution.

Hun Sen, 70, has been in power for 38 years, while his eldest son, Hun Manet, 45, who is currently a member of the CPP’s Permanent Committee, is a deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.

The resolution came at the end of a two-day CPP extraordinary congress, held at the party’s headquarters, under the presidency of Hun Sen, who is also the CPP’s president.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, CPP spokesman, Sok Eysan, said, the congress approved tasks and directions for 2023, and a political platform for 2023-2028.

“The CPP is very confident to win the forthcoming general election, thanks to the party’s strong support from the people from all walks of life,” he said.

The country is scheduled to hold its seventh National Assembly election on July 23, 2023.

In the 2018 election, the CPP won all the 125 seats in the National Assembly.

Source: NAM News Network

January 30, 2023

WWF Cambodia Highlights Significance of Mekong Dolphin Photo-Identification Surveys

Mekong dolphin photo-identification surveys play an important role in monitoring the dolphin population in the river, said the WWF Cambodia.

According to its recent news release, the study is conducted every two or three years by the researchers of the Fisheries Administration and WWF in the dolphin’s habitat covering a 180 km stretch of the Mekong, from Kratie to Stung Treng provinces, Cambodia.

This first photo-identification survey out of a series of three surveys in 2023 was conducted from Jan. 12-17, 2023, also with the participation of international experts from the Sarasota Dolphin Research Center Program, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, and IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group.

The data from this current identification survey will be included with the following two surveys for this year to support a 2023 population estimate. The report is crucial for providing an update on the Mekong population and supporting relevant government agencies at all levels, NGO partners, and wildlife scientists in defining innovative measures for strengthening the conservation of the Mekong dolphins.

The 2020 population surveys estimated that only 89 dolphins remain swimming in the Mekong from Kratie to Stung Treng. The Mekong Dolphins’ survival is threatened by illegal fishing and the impact of upstream dams.

WWF stands ready to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to support an enhanced management and conservation strategy to protect the critically endangered Mekong dolphins, considered Cambodia’s national living treasure.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

January 30, 2023

Preliminary Results of Water Bird Census: 125 Species Recorded

Some 125 species of water bird have been registered, according to the preliminary results of the 2023 Asian Water Bird Census.

The annual census was conducted in the 3rd week of January by NatureLife Cambodia in cooperation with park rangers at Boeung Prek Lapouv and Anlong Pring Protected Landscape Areas, said NatureLife Cambodia.

Ninety-one (91) species have been found in Boeung Prek Lapouv Protected Landscape Area in Takeo province and 34 others in Anlong Pring Protected Landscape Area in Kampot province, the source pointed out.

Covering an area of 8,305 hectares and 217 hectares, respectively, the Boeung Prek Lapouv Protected Landscape Area and Anlong Pring Protected Landscape Area were established in May 2016.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

January 30, 2023

Cambodia, ROK Praise Bilateral Relations and Cooperation

The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have lauded their bilateral relations and cooperation, particularly in the sectors of economy, trade, investment and HR exchange.

The remarks were made by Cambodian Minister of Commerce H.E. Pan Sorasak and his Korean counterpart H.E. ANH Dukgeun, at the opening ceremony of Cambodia-Korea Business and Investment Forum in Seoul, ROK, late last week.

Both sides spoke highly of the forum’s organisation and expressed their optimism that the Cambodia-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Cambodia’s new Law on Investment will contribute to enhancing the trade and business activities between the two countries.

H.E. Pan Sorasak laid stress on the need for close and active participation between private sector, especially between the Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations of both countries to expand business and investment opportunities and networking through dialogue between business companies, trade matching, trade fair, and so on to understand more about exports, market demand and joint venture promotion.

For his part, H.E. ANH Dukgeun pointed out some policy directions such as strengthening and expansion of supply chain between both countries, cooperation in digital economy and green economy, including clean energy, and the like.

Cambodia is an ROK’s good partner in ASEAN and the Mekong region, he underlined, adding that in 2022, Cambodia ranked first in receiving official development assistance (ODA) from ROK.

After the opening ceremony of the Cambodia-Korea Business and Investment Forum, H.E. Pan Sorasak witnessed the signing ceremony of five Memorandums of Understanding between business companies of the two countries.

On Jan. 26, H.E. Minister also met with Mr. KIM Byung-Kwan, Chairman of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) to discuss the promotion of trade and investment activities in Cambodia and had a working meal with Mr. YOON Taesik, Commissioner of Korea Customs Service (KCS).

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press