Chester opens door to relations with Cambodia
CHESTER » Wednesday the city of Chester greeted Chum Bun Rong, the current Ambassador of Cambodia to the United States, for a tour of the city with which he said he was “very impressed.”
First on the docket was a visit to the City Council chambers and an address to the mayor and council before hosting an informational section on his home country. Later came lunch at Uno’s, a reception at the Wharf Building on the waterfront and finally box seats at the Philadelphia Union game against the Columbus Crew.
Bun Rong’s visit was a part of an economic development and Sister Cities initiative between Chester and the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.
“If we have investment, it will generate jobs, labor ... I want (Cambodian) investors and businessmen to come here and invest in this city, so that we can enjoy together the prosperity of people,” Bun Rong said.
Among the top exports in the country is knitted or crocheted clothing, a $7.1 billion boon for the country. Garments account for 80 percent of all exports for the country.
Bun Rong said that through wars and genocide — between 1.3 and 3 million people died from 1975 and 1979 under the oppression of the Khmer Rouge — before the country was invaded and occupied by the Vietnamese from 1977 until 1991.
Many fled the country during the mass genocide, some of whom established a Cambodian community in South Philadelphia.
However, economic growth, from when Bun Rong described as a “businessfriendly” government, and the increase of exports and tourism monies, the country is eager to establish greater trade relationships with the United States and Europe.
“My country is now peaceful and we need to cooperate with other counties,” Bun Rong said. “We need to work together ... I hope that the American people from here will visit my country and vice versa.”
“I will bring my people here so they can see the same project in other countries.”