| SINGAPORE-CAMBODIA RELATIONS |
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Diplomatic relations between Singapore and Cambodia were established on 10 August 1965, a day after Singapore became independent, thus making Cambodia one of the first few countries to recognise Singapore's independence. Both Singapore and Cambodia enjoy excellent bilateral relations, strengthened over the years through high-level visits between leaders and Ministers of the two countries. From 25-27 July 2010, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen made an official visit to Singapore where he called on President S R Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and also addressed the Singaporean business community. In November 2009, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made a working visit to Cambodia. In 2003, President S R Nathan paid a State Visit to Cambodia where he was warmly received by His Majesty King-Father Norodom Sihanouk and the Royal Cambodian Government. His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni made a State Visit to Singapore in March 2006 at the invitation of President Nathan. In March 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid an introductory visit to Phnom Penh and called on senior Cambodian leaders. Such visits by the leaders deepen and strengthen the already excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. The expansion of trade and business contacts between Singapore and Cambodia has also been a significant factor in forging strong bilateral ties. While bilateral trade in 2008 stood at S$898 million, two-way trade increased even further in 2009. Singapore was Cambodia's top trading partner among ASEAN countries in 2009. Singapore was also the second largest foreign investor in Cambodia in 2009. Human resource development continues to be a key pillar of Singapore-Cambodia relations and cooperation. The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), established in 1992, serves as a way for Singapore to share our development experiences with Cambodia. Under the SCP, close to 8,000 Cambodian officials have benefited from training in areas such as English Language, tourism, public administration and environmental management. The Cambodia-Singapore Training Centre, located in the heart of Phnom Penh, was established in 2002 under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). (Under the IAI, which was endorsed by ASEAN leaders at the 4th ASEAN Informal Summit in Singapore in November 2000, Singapore set up training centres in each of the four newer ASEAN member countries - Hanoi, Yangon, Vientiane and Phnom Penh.) The Centre provides human resource development training for Cambodian civil servants and the Centre has administered in-country training to more than 4,300 Cambodian government officials to date. |