Friday, October 29, 2010

US. Embassy Press Release : Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Make First Visit to Cambodia

Released in Phnom Penh,October 29, 2010

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Cambodia from October 30 to November 1, in what is the first visit to the country by a U.S. Secretary of State since Colin Powell visited Cambodia to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum in 2003. Secretary Clinton’s trip is intended to send a strong message of continued U.S. engagement with Cambodia, and her schedule will include discussions with Cambodian government officials and members of civil society on a range of bilateral and regional issues.

Secretary Clinton will begin her visit in Siem Reap, where she will visit the World Heritage-designated Angkor Wat Temple Complex.

On November 1, Secretary Clinton will travel to Phnom Penh and will have an audience with His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni. She will also visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where she will review the history of the Khmer Rouge regime and the progress of the U.S.-supported Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

Secretary Clinton​ will meet separately with Prime Minister Hun Sen and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong. In addition, she will meet with members of Cambodia’s opposition parties.

The visit will also include a “Town Hall” style meeting in which an audience of students and others will have an opportunity to ask Secretary Clinton questions.

Secretary Clinton’s visit comes at a time of growing cooperation between the United States and Cambodia in a number of areas, including military and law enforcement, counterterrorism, POW/MIA matters, and economic development. In July the two countries celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The Secretary will also make stops in Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia on this visit.

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