New US Ambassador to Cambodia Eyes Improved Trade, Relations
U.S.
Ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt, center, escorts U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry, right, after he arrives at Phnom Pehn International
Airport in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia, Jan. 25, 2016.
VOA | 10 February 2016
“A lot of these countries are in different phases of becoming democratic — with a small 'd,'" Schultz said. "Those are reforms that [Obama] takes very seriously and pursues in private conversations and in public forums ... so I’d expect the right to protest and the right to peacefully be heard falls under that umbrella and do expect the president to talk about the importance of democratic reforms as part of the summit conversations next week.”
PHNOM PENH—The newest U.S. ambassador to Cambodia says he will focus on improving relations and boosting trade between the two countries during his tenure.
In an exclusive interview with VOA Khmer, Ambassador William Heidt said many opportunities now exist for the two countries to build stronger ties.
“I feel very lucky to be here in Cambodia at a time when really there
are a lot of interesting possibilities to work together more closely on
those issues,” he said. “So I’m excited about making progress on those
trade and economic issues. I’ve also noted that the people-to-people
relationships between the United States and Cambodia are very strong.”
Heidt worked as an economic officer in the embassy from 1997 to 1999,
speaks Khmer and is married to a Cambodian. He said he would also work
toward improving Cambodia’s food security and environmental protections.
Improving trade
Heidt will work on establishing a Bilateral Investment Treaty, which would improve trade by encouraging investment, he said.
Heidt will work on establishing a Bilateral Investment Treaty, which would improve trade by encouraging investment, he said.
“We think that would help Cambodia track higher technology investment
that will enable Cambodia to manufacture and export sophisticated
projects, in what they call global value chains,” he said, adding that
these days one product may be produced from input in multiple countries.
Cambodia exported some $2.8 billion in goods to the U.S. in 2014,
making it the country’s largest single export market. The U.S. exported
about $328 million in goods to Cambodia.
Heidt said Cambodia could also consider joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a U.S.-led trade pact that could open U.S. markets further.
Heidt said Cambodia could also consider joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a U.S.-led trade pact that could open U.S. markets further.
“Actually we hope all ASEAN countries come in somewhere down the road,” Heidt said of the TPP. “I think it’s going to be a powerful trade agreement. It’s going to help countries develop their economy, especially Cambodia, which has now become a middle-income country and wants to export more sophisticated product to the world. I think it can be very helpful.”
US-ASEAN relations
Heidt’s interview comes less than a week before Prime Minister Hun
Sen and other ASEAN leaders are expected to meet with President Barack
Obama for a summit at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage,
California.
On Wednesday, White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz was
asked about reports that the Cambodian prime minister threatened
protesters who would demonstrate against Phnom Penh's human rights
record at the upcoming summit, which is scheduled to kick off February
16.
“A lot of these countries are in different phases of becoming
democratic — with a small 'd,'" Schultz said. "Those are reforms that
[Obama] takes very seriously and pursues in private conversations and in
public forums ... so I’d expect the right to protest and the right to
peacefully be heard falls under that umbrella and do expect the
president to talk about the importance of democratic reforms as part of
the summit conversations next week.”
The two-day talks will focus on U.S.-ASEAN relations, trade and
security. Other meetings around the summit will focus on
entrepreneurship and economic growth, Heidt said.
FILE
- A security guard talks to a visitor at the entrance to the Annenberg
Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Wednesday, June 5, 2013.
Chum Sounry, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said
Cambodia is happy to join with ASEAN leaders in the Sunnylands meetings,
but what Cambodia would like most is the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
“This is the main goal that we want to increase the economic
relations, particularly with the U.S.” he said. “And, we are also
considering whether to join the TPP or not.”
Southeast Asia has seen renewed diplomatic interest from the U.S.
amid the growing influence of China in the region; however, Heidt said
the U.S. is not asking Cambodia to “choose between the U.S. or China.”
Rather, it would like to see Cambodia have better economic success.
“I think, as an economist, in the next step for Cambodia’s
development, America is going to be very important to it,” he said. “The
integration helps Cambodia to move up the value change in
manufacturing. That’s why the United States is important too, so
Cambodia’s job is to use the relationships effectively with both
countries.”
Chum Sounry agreed, saying that Cambodia is looking for greater technology and trade relations with other nations in the world.
“As we have stated, even though Cambodia has good relations with
China, Cambodia still needs to build good relations with other countries
in the world, including the U.S.,” he said. “The U.S. is the biggest
market of Cambodian garment products, so it is very important to
strengthen greater economic trade with the U.S...It is our goal and
hope.”
Kerry visit
Kung Phoak, head of Cambodia Institute for Strategic Studies, said he
sees the possibility for greater trade and ties with the U.S.,
particularly after the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last
month. That’s a signal of improved relations from which both countries
can build trust, he said.
U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry poses for photographers with Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen before a bilateral meeting on Jan. 26, 2016, at
the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
During his visit, Kerry said the U.S. wants Cambodia to improve its
human rights record, governance and democratic development. Heidt said
those remain priorities for his U.S. mission as well. Economic
development will help that too, he said, as will the non-governmental
groups that operate here.
“We hope for step-by-step improvement in the Cambodian economy,” he
said. “Just like the Cambodian economy. As the Cambodian economy
develops, we hope that its democracy develops too. And so to me,
Cambodia needs to just keep making progress on democracy and human
rights issues. I think some of the civil society groups in Cambodia are
really very good for the country.”
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