Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Opening Statement at the Delegation Level Talks in Cambodia

The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his two-days’ official visit to Cambodia, held delegation level talks with his Cambodian counterpart Mr.Hun Sen, at Phnom Penh, today. Following is the text of the Opening Statement made by Shri Vajpayee, at the meeting:

~Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Hun Sen,

Thank you for your inspiring words of friendship. I would like to convey our appreciation for the warm and gracious hospitality extended to my delegation and to me. Your ready acceptance of scheduling changes in this visit reflects the warmth of our bilateral relations and your personal commitment to it.

Excellency, relations between India and Cambodia go back over a thousand years. Profound cultural and social links underpin our historical relationship. In more recent times, we have enjoyed the mutual friendship of our leaders and our peoples. We have developed our post-independence relations as co-founders of the Non Aligned Movement. We have enjoyed an identity of views on most important regional and international issues and this has strengthened our bilateral political and economic cooperation.

The wisdom and maturity of the present day leadership of Cambodia has raised Cambodia’s international stature and widened the field of its interaction with the world. Cambodia is today stable, peaceful and is playing an active role in the comity of nations. As a result of your efforts, the Cambodian economy has shown commendable growth. We believe there is considerable potential for our bilateral co-operation- both at the government level and with the involvement of Indian business and industry – for Cambodia’s further development. An Indian business delegation is in Cambodia now. Its members have been specially selected for their interests in joint ventures and infra-structure projects in Cambodia.

We are also willing to depute ten experts from India to assist the efforts of the Cambodian government in capacity building, and human resource development. They could come as trainers and advisors in areas of your interest like vocational training, improved rice cultivation techniques, irrigation, agro-industries, roads and railways and information technology.

To promote the development of computer education and access to information technology cooperation, I am happy to extend the offer to set up five Internet kiosks in areas of your choice.

Excellency, I am conscious of the havoc caused by floods in Cambodia late last year. As a gesture of sympathy of the people of India, I would like to offer a gift of ten thousand tons of rice to Cambodia.

We are aware that you have an ambitious programme for the development of your railway sector. India is well-equipped to assist you in this venture.

Your Government has graciously acknowledged India’s contribution to the restoration of temples in Angkor Wat. It is our privilege to be associated with the restoration of this unique world heritage. I am happy that we are signing an MOU today for the renovation and preservation work of the magnificent Ta Prohm temple complex.

We believe that there is tremendous scope for promoting tourist exchanges between our two countries. My delegation includes the Director General of Tourism of my Government to look at the possibilities.

Cambodia has been a steadfast advocate for intensification of the India- ASEAN dialogue. We deeply appreciate this. It is entirely appropriate that Cambodia should host the first ASEAN-India Summit later this year. We felicitate you on your forthcoming assumption of the Chairmanship of ASEAN.

Reflecting its commitment to the development of ASEAN’s new entrants, India strongly supports the ‘Initiative for ASEAN Integration’ launched recently. We are interested in participating in projects of benefit to Cambodia and other three new ASEAN members.

We welcome the Mekong Ganga Co-operation project for a Museum of Traditional Textiles at Siem Reap. I have pleasure in offering an amount of US$ 1 million from India as seed money for the project.

Excellency, India-Cambodia relations are of long standing and are time tested. I wish to assure you that India is firmly committed to strengthening these relations and promoting its bilateral co-operation with Cambodia on the basis of trust, friendship and mutual respect. We are at an important stage in our bilateral economic co-operation and we should maintain the momentum of this co-operation. High level exchanges of visits are invaluable for this. I extend to you a cordial invitation to visit India at an early date.

Thank You.~