Tokyo, Japan (FN), May 31 - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to assist Cambodia's development and democracy, speaking in a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Tokyo on Friday, according to delegate minister Kao Kim Hourn.

Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Japan to continue assisting on demining sector in Cambodia, in particular to provide financial assistance to CMAC to carry out demining activities in three major provinces, including Battambang, Pailin, and Pursat, as mines continued to plague development in those areas.

He confirmed to Abe that no foreign military bases are present on Cambodia's soil.

Strongman Hun Sen expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the government and people of Japan for their significant contributions to our quest for peace, national unity as well as rehabilitating and developing the Cambodian economy through cooperation in financing, infrastructure development, technical assistance, and human resource development in addition to investment by the Japanese private sector.

Between 1992 and 2018, Japan provided the equivalent of more than $2.8 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Cambodia – about 15 percent of total financing by all development partners. Japan has supported major infrastructure projects – building the Kizuna Bridge and the Tsubasa Bridge, improving National Roads No. 1 and 5, developing a new container terminal at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and improving flood protection and drainage in Phnom Penh.
=FRESH NEWS