Japanese FM arrives in Cambodia, 143 mln USD aid deals to be signed

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Japanese FM arrives in Cambodia, 143 mln USD aid deals to be signed

PHNOM PENH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on Sunday evening for a three-day official visit and will sign to provide more than 143 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia.

Kishida was greeted by Cambodian Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Long Visalo at the Phnom Penh International Airport upon his arrival.

According to a news statement from the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, Kishida will hold bilateral talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong and the two ministers will sign grant aid and loan agreements under the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The aid includes a grant of 8.3 million U.S. dollars for education sector and a soft loan of 135 million U.S. dollars for electricity grid development, road improvement project and irrigation and drainage rehabilitation scheme, the statement said.

Besides, Kishida and Hun Sen will officiate at the inauguration ceremony of a Japanese-invested AEON Mall in Phnom Penh. The mall is currently Cambodia's largest modern market, which is reportedly built at a cost of 205 million U.S. dollars.

He is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140629/japanese-fm-arrives-cambodia-143-mln-usd-aid-deals-be-signed