A GROUP of people in Norwich have dedicated their time to raising as much money
as possible for 20 wells to be built in Cambodiato provide people with free
running and cleanwater.
Members of the Proclaimer Church, based at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel on Boundary
Road, have gathered together over the past few months in various fundraising
activities, the latest of which was a fancy dress bicycle ride around Norwich's
outer ring road.
Steve East is an 18 stone body builder who decided to take part as the
incredible hulk. He took two hours to cycle the route with six others and
raised £250. As a group the ride raised enough money for three wells to be
built in Cambodia.
Mr East, 33, a cavity wall insulator, said: “It was such a good laugh. We got
beeped all the way round by cars. We found either people were beeping at us or
waving or clapping, or they pretended they didn't see us.
“I think they thought they'd just seen the incredible hulk on a bike and then
thought, 'no, that can't be right.'”
Mr East's wife, Marie, 30, has also taken part in a number of events throughout
the summer. She said: “This could change the lives of millions of people.
“It's quite exciting to find out how much money we've raised. I know we've got
enough money for four wells but I think more people will hand their money in
over the next few days.
“I can see us having enough for the 20 wells.”
The church is working with an organisation called Metamorphic International,
which help to develop communities abroad. Through Metamorphic the money will be
handed over and building will begin almost immediately.
Senior leaders of China and Cambodia on Tuesday underscored the traditional
friendship between the two neighbours.
"Let's work more closely to take our five-decade bilateral friendship and
cooperation to a new high," China's top legislator Wu Bangguo told the
President of the Cambodian Senate, Chea Sim.
In their talks in the Great Hall of the People, Wu, chairman of the
National People's Congress Standing Committee, reviewed the sound development
of China-Cambodia ties, citing political trust, substantive cooperation and
support on important issues.
In response, Sim said the Cambodian leadership will carry forward the
bilateral traditional solidarity that was forged by the older leaders in the
previous century.
Sim said he hoped the two legislatures can step up their cooperation and
share experience on governance.
Sim's visit to Beijing coincided with the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of China-Cambodia ties.
Later Tuesday, Sim met with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee
of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory
body.
Jia said China would like to enhance its comprehensive and in-depth
cooperation with Cambodia.
The top advisor also expressed appreciation for Cambodia's adherence to the
one-China policy and opposition to "Taiwan independence".
Sim said Cambodia was grateful for the assistance Chinahad offered and
would like to work more closely with China in politics, economics and other
fields.
Cambodia's burgeoning economy brought casino operator NagaCorp 25.5 million
dollars in profit in the first half of the year, a company report obtained by
media revealed Wednesday.. The profit signalled a rise of 26.9 per cent on a
year earlier.
"Our operations continued to benefit from the political stability and economic
development of Cambodia," the NagaCorp report said. After decades of turmoil,
Cambodia has emerged as a rising economy in Southeast Asia - posting an average
of 11 per cent growth over the past three years on the back of strong tourism
and garment sectors.
Nagacorp reported its revenue soared 68.5 per cent from the same period last
year to approximately 109.1 million dollars, in a country hosting several
casinos popular with gamblers across the region.
The Malaysian-ownedcompany runs the largest casino in Cambodia's capital Phnom
Penh. The government awarded it a gambling license in 1994 to promote
international tourism.
More than a dozen casinos operated by other companies dot Cambodia's borders
with Vietnam and Thailand, raking in an estimated tens, if not hundreds of
millions of dollars each year.
The industry fuels the economies of several hard-scrabble Cambodian cities,
though the country remains desperately poor with more than 30 per cent of its
14 million population living in poverty.
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