Two new companies given licence to fly in Cambodia

By Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIA will licence two more aviation companies to fly passengers on domestic routes, according to Mao Havannall, Secretary of State of Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation authority.

Speaking at a plenary session at the National Assembly yesterday, he said the two firms – Tonle Sap Company and Indochina Company – would be cleared to fly from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville.

“We are preparing the procedures for both private firms, and hope they will begin operating early next year,” he said.

The two companies are set to receive their licences in the next few days, he said, adding that the firms were to partner with companies based overseas, and fly medium-sized planes such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

The Civil Aviation authority has not yet released a flight schedule for the two firms.

Currently, Cambodia Angkor Air is the only firm that operates a regularly scheduled passenger service on domestic routes in the Kingdom.

Sam Rainsy Party Senator Yim Sovann said he welcomed more flights, as it would encourage competition in the domestic aviation sector.

Increased competition will result in cheaper tickers for passengers, he said.

“We support more flights in the nation because we think that it will be more competitive and provide more benefit to the Cambodian people,” he said.

Mao Havannall said that licensing the two new companies was due to speculation that the number of international tourists will continue to increase.

Cambodia has signed a number of agreements with foreign nations to operate direct flights to the Kingdom, aiming to increase the number of visitors from overseas, he said.

On Friday, the National Assembly approved two multilateral agreements with ASEAN, and eight protocols on air transportation and shipping, to contribute to the goal of a common ASEAN flight market in 2015.

China, Cambodia pledge to further enhance ties

BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Cambodian leaders on Wednesday pledged to further enhance bilateral ties, two days after the two countries agreed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

"The establishment of this strategic partnership brings new opportunities for the development of bilateral ties," Chinese President Hu Jintao said when meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday afternoon in the Great Hall of the People.

China will maintain friendly exchanges with Cambodia at all levels, strengthen mutual support on major issues of concern, and deepen exchanges on experiences in managing state affairs, Hu said.

The president said the Chinese government and people value the traditional friendship with Cambodia, and will always support Cambodia to take its own development path.

Hu added that China will expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, finance, infrastructure construction, agriculture and energy, increase bilateral trade, enhance cultural, technological and youth exchanges, and maintain the two countries' coordination on regional and international affairs.

Hu also called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation in areas such as coping with the international financial crisis, disaster prevention and relief and combating cross-border crimes.

Hun Sen said Cambodia-China relations have entered a new stage after the two countries agreed to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

He said Cambodia will abide by the one-China policy and work with China to further promote bilateral ties.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo also met with Hun Sen Wednesday. During the meeting, Wu pledged to bolster exchanges and cooperation between the two states' legislative bodies.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, hailed the political, economic and cultural ties between China and Cambodia, saying the establishment of the strategic partnership will yield tangible benefits for the two peoples.

Wu said the two states' legislative bodies have, in recent years, carried out substantial dialogue between their leaders, special committees and staff, which contributed to the development of bilateral ties.

Hun Sen applauded the traditional friendship and pledged to promote exchanges between the two states' legislative bodies and to enhance coordination on major issues to promote bilateral ties.

Cambodia, Thai border gate opening delays for another month

Source: Xinhua

The plan to open Preah Vihear temple border gate with neighboring Thailand will be delayed for another one month, said a top official at the Cambodian Preah Vihear National Authority on Wednesday.

"After the bilateral meeting on Tuesday between Cambodia and Thai officials, the Thai side has asked us to delay the opening of the border gate for another month instead of opening the gate on December 5," Hang Soth, director general of the Preah Vihear National Authority, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

He said the delay suggestion from the Thai side was made as both sides could not reach agreement on the issues of sharing entry ticket fees and letting Thai vendors to sell in Cambodian market nearby the temple.

The border gate has been closed since July 2008, when Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage site that triggered a military build-up along the border and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers.

Since then, tourists have been allowed to enter the hilltop temple only from the Cambodia side, preventing a large influx of visitors from Thailand.

The tension between the two countries were eased after four meetings between leaders of the two countries and subsequent meetings between commanders of both sides' armed forces.