Visiting Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday expressed his country's support for Cambodia's request to gain the non-permenent membership of the United Nations Security Council from 2013 to 2014, Cambodia's government spokesman said.

Cambodia's previous application for the membership failed due to lack of support, but the kingdom could not give up its efforts and would apply again after 2010 when the conditions were ready, said government spokesman and Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith.

During the meeting with Juncker, who arrived here Thursday morning on a two-day official visit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Juncker, who, in his capacity of rotating president of the European Union (E.U.), extended aid to Cambodia when it suffered factional wars in 1997 and then continued the support by granting fund for the kingdom to conduct its general election in 1998, said the spokesman.

Hun Sen also expressed his appreciation to the E.U. and Luxembourg for offering capital to Cambodia to clear mines and destroy light weapons, according to the spokesman.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen requested Juncker to select Cambodia as one of the target countries for Luxembourg to offer aid for the next year and Juncker agreed.

Hun Sen also hoped the Luxembourg government to continue its support for Cambodian officials and students to win scholarship to study banking and economy at its colleges and universities, said the spokesman.

Juncker invited Hun Sen to visit his country. Hun Sen promised to fulfill the invitation after the kingdom's next general election in 2008.

In separate meetings with Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon and Governor General of National Bank of Cambodia Chea Chanto, Juncker discussed the ways to build closer cooperation between the two countries in the sectors of banking and finance.

It was the first official visit of Luxembourg Prime Minister to Cambodia. The two countries have not established embassies with each other now.

Source: Xinhua