- Celebrations this week of One Belt-One Road in Prey Veng province, as the community hosted a large delegation from Zhejiang province, including multiple economic and cultural organizations from Wenzhou, highlighting charitable donations to Cambodia from the provinces including particularly strong support for local education and the provision of 500 school uniforms. The chief of the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce noted the importance of making this visit an annual event in order to deepen cooperation between Prey Veng and Zhejiang (one of China's wealthiest provinces and a model of export-oriented industrialization).
- The third annual "Overseas Chinese Trade Fair" took place in Shenzhen, Guangzhou with some decent representation from Cambodia. The speech concluding the event highlighted the vital importants of the "HuaQiao" (Overseas Chinese) community in ensuring the success of the One Belt/One Road Initiative.
- Not China related - we're just noting Japan's enormous recent aid activity in the Kingdom. While everyone is aware of the prime minister's recent visit to Tokyo to discuss funding for the much anticipated train linking the central market and the airport, less attention was given to the USD 209 million loan provided by Tokyo at concessionary rates for the construction of a new pier in the port of Sihanoukville.
- The China Real Estate Association, based in Shanghai, held its 15th Cambodia Forum in Phnom Penh last week - framed (surprise!) - along the lines of how it can help to support the One Belt/One Road Initative.
- Congratulations to the Cambodia Daily (not the one published in English, although we're fans of them too) on their 17th anniversary publishing here in Phnom Penh! Keep up the great work, guys!
- The Secetary of Labor and Welfare of the Hong Kong SAR paid a visit to town last week. The issue of HK's continued shortage of labor (particularly domestic workers) was discussed.
- The Anhui province in China announced the recipients of 53 scholarships; students will study international trade and civil engineering in the province (ironically, a province not exactly known for its successes in either of these areas).
- The Yunnan province representative office in Phnom Penh was also active last week - hosting an event to better coordinate investment/commercial activities by Yunnan based firms (our money's always on Yunnan as Beijing' main "entry point" to Cambodia).
- A delegation from the China Non-Ferrous Metals Association (they sound fun) was in town to discuss, you guessed it, One Belt/One Road. Also participating was the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, discussions were held on aspects related to increasing PRC investment in Cambodia.
[Brad Murg]