2 min readPhnom PenhSep 15, 2010 04:15 AM IST
First published on: Sep 15, 2010 at 04:15 AM IST
President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday was given a warm and colourful ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace in Cambodia capital Phnom Penh by King Norodom Sihamoni. Patil arrived here on the second leg of her two-nation tour on Monday.
Patil recalled not just the strong civilisational ties between the two countries,but also the close association between Jawaharlal Nehru and Prince Norodom Sihanouk,the father of the present king.
Patil is the first Indian President to visit Cambodia since Rajendra Prasad in 1959.
Speaking at the state banquet on Tuesday,Patil said,Human resource development and capacity building have been the primary focus of India-Cambodia bilateral cooperation for many years. India is cooperating with Cambodia in infrastructural projects,considered priority projects for the development of Cambodia,under concessional lines of credit. Today we have signed an additional line of credit worth 15 million for the Stung Tassal Water Development Project in Cambodia.
Patil emphasised the need to encourage private sectors to pro-actively explore trade and investment opportunities. She expressed hope that the youth of both countries will have greater exchanges in order to strengthen the ancient cultural ties between the two nations. Patil also met PM Hun Sen,President of the Senate,Chena Sim and President of the National Assembly,Heng Samrin on Tuesday.
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