Krishan Kant arrives in Phnom Penh

By Amit Baruah

PHNOM PENH (CAMBODIA), JUNE 3. Cambodia's goodwill towards India was evident all the way as the Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, touched down at the Pochentong international airport, 11 km from here, to a warm welcome this evening.

The Cambodian Prime Minister, Mr. Hun Sen, received the Vice- President as the flags of the two countries flew together at the terminal building. A brief reception was organised at the airport complex itself to receive Mr. Kant, who flew in here from Siem Reap after visiting Angkor Vat.

Banners welcomed the Vice-President all the way to the Intercontinental Hotel where he is staying with a large delegation of officials. ``Long live the bonds of friendship between the people of Cambodia and India,'' said one, while another warmly welcomed the Vice-President and his wife, Mrs. Suman Kant.

The banner-waving may be part of official protocol and extended to other visiting dignitaries, but the fact remains that an Indian Vice-President has at least made it to Phnom Penh.

Mr. Kant's is the first high-level visit from India to Cambodia since the then External Affairs Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, was here way back in January 1996. However, high-level contact took place recently when Mr. Hun Sen visited India in February 2000.

India and Cambodia have enjoyed a close relationship along with New Delhi's warm ties with countries in the immediate neighbourhood such as Vietnam and Laos.

New Delhi's diplomatic approach to this region was independent and much appreciated in the times of Cold War rivalry in the Indo-China region.

Outside the Soviet bloc, India was among the few countries which recognised the Heng Samrin Government and opened its embassy in 1981, a fact not lost on the leaders of this country.

While today's world is quite different from the 1980s, there is little doubt that India and Cambodia have much goodwill in their relationship and this can be used for a building-block approach.

For instance, Mr. Hun Sen has been an enthusiastic promoter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus India summit idea, a proposal being actively pursued by India in the capitals of South-East Asia.

With Mr. Kant's visit to Cambodia, just Philippines and Brunei remain without high-level contacts between India and the 10- member ASEAN grouping in the last 12 months.

(Thailand could be ``technically'' added to this list as the last bilateral visit between the two countries was by the former Thai Foreign Minister, Mr. Surin Pitsuwan, in July last year. However, the current Thai Foreign Minister, Mr. Surakiat Sathirathai, is scheduled to visit India.)

While Cambodia has built up good relations with China and other ASEAN countries, Phnom Penh is very favourably disposed towards India.

Given a situation where India is increasing its linkages with South-East Asia, countries such as Cambodia as well as Vietnam and Laos have an important role in promoting such a relationship.

The Chinese President, Mr. Jiang Zemin, visited Cambodia in November last year, a sign of the warming relationship between the two countries. The economic relationship is also on the upswing.

If India is interested in seriously understanding the role that China is playing and wants to play in the future in South-East Asia, then New Delhi has little option but to remain engaged in the region.

It may be mentioned here that Cambodia, as a key Mekong basin nation, is a member of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) floated by India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos as its other members in November last year.

While the MGC is a fledgling organisation, India's seriousness in turning the organisation into a worthwhile association will be closely watched. Vietnam, for instance, takes diplomacy very seriously and would be keen to ensure that the MGC initiative is continued.

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