Chinese Government pledges RMB 150 million grant for unspecified purposes

Between September 1-2, 2012, the Chinese Government pledged grant funding worth RMB 150 million to the Government of Cambodia to use as it chooses on any project it believes to be a priority.

On the same day, the Chinese Government also pledged more than $80 million USD for three concessional loans to Cambodia, which were expected to be signed in 2012 (captured in Record ID#32230). The specific sub-projects are unknown. According to reports, these grants and loans are given as a "gift" to thank Cambodia's cooperation in the ASEAN.

A summit of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July failed to issue a joint communique for the first time in the group's 45-year history after disagreement over the wording of a section on territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Cambodia, which chairs ASEAN meetings this year, was accused by some countries in the group of stonewalling in support of its ally, China.