Shii talks with FUNCINPEC party head

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Shii talks with FUNCINPEC party head

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 1 met with FUNCINPEC President Keo Puth Reaksmey, a ruling coalition party, at its headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Shii expressed his hope that the relationship between the JCP and FUNCINPEC will develop to help contribute to a deeper friendship between Japan and Cambodia.

Keo stated that meeting with Shii on the occasion of the Sixth General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) will greatly contribute to closer ties of friendship between the two parties.

Shii stated, "I have kept my eye on the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) developing as a peaceful community of the region" of which Cambodia officially became a member state in 1999 and added, "I expect that Cambodia will play an important role as the host nation of ASEAN in 2012."

The Cambodian Constitution contains policies of being a permanently neutral and non-aligned country, not joining in any military alliance, peacefully solving problems, and prohibiting nuclear weapons. Former King Sihanouk attended the 1955 Bandung Conference as well as the first summit conference of the Non-Aligned Movement. Shii stated, "I have respect for Cambodia for taking a lead in the further development of the non-aligned movement."

Every year in the U.N. General Assembly, Cambodia co-sponsors a resolution calling for the start of negotiations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons. Shii expressed his hope for cooperation between the two parties to establish peace in Asia and the rest of the world and to abolish nuclear weapons.

Shii also stated that he will make all-out efforts "to bring the peaceful trend of Southeast Asia to Northeast Asia."

- Akahata, December 3, 2010