Your Majesty Queen Monineath,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kind words addressed to Singapore. At the outset, let me say how much my wife and I, and members of my delegation, are touched by the warm welcome and gracious hospitality which has been extended to us by Your Majesty and the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Cambodia and Singapore are old friends. Even before Singapore achieved independence, our leaders had visited Phnom Penh and counted Cambodia's leadership as our close friend. When Singapore gained independence in 1965, Cambodia was also one of the first countries to recognise Singapore. We will always remember, with abiding appreciation, Cambodia’s strong support for our newly-independent status. Indeed, in the immediate post-Colonial days, as several of us in Southeast Asia emerged as newly-independent states, Your Majesty’s support and encouragement gave us all the confidence to stand up and be counted. Whether at Bandung or subsequent gatherings of the Non-Aligned Movement, many looked to Your Majesty for guidance and leadership.

Cambodia is an ancient civilisation with a rich heritage, going back to the 9^th century to the once-mighty Khmer empire, whose legacy of Angkor Wat is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In your long history, your great nation has seen so many ravages, yet each time, the spirit of the Cambodian people has triumphed. In more recent times, Cambodia underwent a difficult and tumultuous period. The travails of your Kingdom and the dangers that Your Majesty lived through during the 70’s and the 80’s hardly need repeating. During that painful episode, the world almost forgot Cambodia. We were pleased to have played a small part in rallying support for Cambodia to re-emerge as a free and independent nation, freed from ideological oppression, with the 1993 UN-sponsored elections.

In the decade since, Cambodia has made great strides. Just six years after the UN-sponsored elections, Cambodia joined the ASEAN family. Cambodia has since moved from strength to strength. It has made its mark on the international stage. Its effort to join the World Trade Organisation is also making steady progress. Cambodia has shown continued commitment to press on with its open economic policy and integrate itself with the ASEAN economies through AFTA, e-ASEAN and other initiatives. In 2002, Cambodia has taken on the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Standing Committee and successfully hosted the ASEAN Summit.

The remarkable progress achieved by Cambodia tells us a lot about the spirit of the Cambodian people. Despite war and suffering for more than three decades, elements of that resourcefulness, creativity and determination which underpinned the great Khmer kingdoms and civilisation, are still evident in today's Cambodia. Such progress would not have been possible without the benevolence, wise counsel and guidance of Your Majesty and the pragmatic approach of the Royal Cambodian Government.

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen

Relations between Cambodia and Singapore have been strengthened over the past years. Regular exchanges of visits between our leaders and officials have forged closer links. There is also a growing exchange of visits by our people for work, tourism and education. Non-government organizations such as the Singapore International Foundation have undertaken modest humanitarian projects in Cambodia.

Singapore is also pleased to have been able to make a small contribution, within our limited capabilities, towards Cambodia’s developmental effort. With our firm belief that people are critical for success in the knowledge-based New Economy, we have focussed our efforts in training and human resource development. To date, some 1,500 Cambodian officials have attended various training programmes in Singapore under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. In addition, as announced by my Prime Minister in November 2000, Singapore has committed to a five-year programme to provide assistance in human resource development to Cambodia as well as the other newer ASEAN members under the "Initiative for ASEAN Integration".

Tourism development is another field which Singapore has shared our expertise with Cambodia. Tourism has been one of the fastest growing sectors in Cambodia. Tourist arrivals rose by 30% to 790,000 visitors in 2002. To dovetail with Cambodia’s plans to form a tourist belt around Angkor Wat, Singapore has helped in drawing up a 10-year masterplan on tourism development. The report, which was presented to the Cambodian Government in March 2002, aims to provide some guiding principles which Cambodia might find useful in developing its own long-term tourism strategies.

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

Today, our region as a whole is facing challenging times. We have to grapple with the global economic slowdown, the ramifications of a possible war against Iraq, and the scourge of international terrorism, which the tragic bombing in Bali has brought very close to home. No country can solve any of these problems alone.

These massive challenges underscore the necessity for ASEAN members like Cambodia and Singapore to work closely together, not just bilaterally, but within the context of ASEAN – an important pillar upon which our partnership rests.

But ASEAN itself is under scrutiny. Economic problems and terrorist threats have fueled negative perceptions of ASEAN. At the same time, an economically vibrant China and India are also challenging ASEAN’s attractiveness as a market and source of foreign investments. It is all the more important that ASEAN countries work together to restore international interest and confidence in ASEAN.

This is also a time for us to reflect and seek innovative ways to harness our strengths and synergies. As the current Chair of the ASEAN Standing Committee, Cambodia can take the lead in doing so. Indeed, it is very encouraging that Cambodia, since assuming the Chairmanship, has frequently consulted other ASEAN countries on how best to move ASEAN forward.

Singapore, on its part, stands ready to cooperate with Cambodia in helping ASEAN make progress through initiatives such as AFTA and the ASEAN Investment Area. The long-term objective of an ASEAN Economic Community, when realized, will further brighten the prospects for ASEAN’s continued success and prosperity. We will work closely with Cambodia to press on vigorously with our ASEAN initiatives for the regional good. I am confident that we will make further progress during Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

This is my first State Visit to Cambodia. It is also the first State Visit to Cambodia by a Singapore President since independence. I bring with me the warm wishes of all Singaporeans to their Cambodian friends. My visit is also a strong affirmation of Singapore’s commitment to friendly and co-operative ties with Cambodia.

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen

May I now invite you to join me in a toast:

to the success and prosperity of Cambodia;

to the friendship and close ties between Cambodia and Singapore;

to the prosperity and stability of ASEAN; and

to the good health and well-being of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk and Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.

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