Brontekst bekijken van Cambodian PM Leaves For China To Seek More Aid

By Prak Chan Thul<br><br>PHNOM PENH, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, facing Western donor pressure over a crackdown on critics ahead of 2018 elections, will seek more aid and investment from China during a visit this week, his aide said on Wednesday.<br><br>China is already Cambodia's biggest donor and its support has bolstered Hun Sen in the face of criticism of what his opponents say amounts to the destruction of [http://Thesaurus.com/browse/democracy democracy].<br><br>The aide, Sry Thamrong, said Hun Sen would attend a special summit from Thursday to Sunday held by the ruling Communist Party on a theme espoused by Chinese President Xi Jinping on turning the world for the better and without interference.<br><br>The aim of Hun Sen's meetings to discuss aid and investment with Xi and Chinese investors is to create more jobs in Cambodia, he said.<br><br>"Especially, we need more bridges on the [http://www.mekongrustic.com mekong delta homestay tour] River, we also need many more roads, trains, sky train," Sry Thamrong told reporters at the international airport in Phnom Penh, the capital, before the departure.<br><br>"These are the things we need in the future."<br><br>China has supported Cambodia's crackdown, making no criticism of the government, which is one of Beijing's most important allies in Southeast Asia after more than three decades in power.<br><br>The supreme court this month banned the opposition Cambodia [http://www.business-Opportunities.biz/search/?q=National National] Rescue Party (CNRP) at the government's  [http://www.mekongrustic.com mekong delta homestay tour] request. That followed the arrest of its leader Kem Sokha for plotting to take power with American help.<br><br>The United States has stopped election funding ahead of next year's general election and threatened further concrete steps. The European Union has raised a potential threat to Cambodia´s duty free access.<br><br>Washington is working on a review of its ties with Cambodia after the dissolution of the CNRP, William Heidt, the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia said.<br><br>"That is something we are taking very seriously, having a very serious review of our policies towards Cambodia," he told broadcaster Voice of America in an interview on Wednesday. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez)