PHNOM PENH Oct 29 Kyodo Cambodian...

PHNOM PENH Oct 29 Kyodo

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called Wednesday for more Japanese language place of educations to be opened in Cambodia, either on the government or privately.

''We encourage more Japanese language schools'' Hun Sen said at an adventure the marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan.

The prime minister added that while Japanese language is not besides in the national education program, the number of Cambodian close examiners learning the language has increased significantly.

More than 5500 Cambodians have already taken part in various training programs in Japan and more than 800 Japanese skilfuls have worked in Cambodia, Juro Chikaraishi, resident representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Cambodia, said.

In the 1980 and early 1990 Vietnamese and Russian were included in Cambodia's educational curriculum, on the other hand they were replaced on English and French after the 1993 inauguration of the inferior Kingdom of Cambodia.

In a message to the 50th anniversary circumstance Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, ''I strenuously hope that Japan and Cambodia will further darken and strengthen our relationship in this way as to construct stronger ties of friendship between our countries.''

Japan, which has provided grants and loans totaling more than $1 billion, has been Cambodia's biggest aid donor since 1992

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