In a significant move to bolster bilateral ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Beijing on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed strengthening the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, emphasizing high-quality, high-level, and high-standard cooperation in the new era.
President Xi highlighted China’s commitment to its relationship with Cambodia, stating that the nation is a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy. “China has always attached great importance to its relations with Cambodia,” Xi said. “We are ready to work with Cambodia to build a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.”
Emphasizing mutual support, Xi called for both countries to uphold and consolidate their “iron-clad” friendship. He assured continued support for Cambodia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. “China will continue to support Cambodia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests,” he affirmed.
Xi urged for deeper mutual learning and exchanges, vowing to assist Cambodia in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. He called for seizing opportunities for cooperation to open up new win-win situations, proposing to enrich the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, formulate cooperation plans for the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the “Fish and Rice Corridor,” and promote synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy.
“China and Cambodia are both committed to being a force for peace, development, and progress in the world,” Xi noted. He expressed China’s support for Cambodia to play a greater role in international and regional affairs, strengthen the power of the Global South, and oppose external forces introducing a Cold War mentality into the region.
Hun Sen expressed his gratitude for China’s invaluable support and assistance in Cambodia’s political, economic, and social development over the years. “China is Cambodia’s most trusted friend,” he stated. “Friendship with China is a consensus within the CPP, which will not undergo any changes with intergenerational leadership transitions in Cambodia.”
The Cambodian leader expressed a willingness to comprehensively strengthen party-to-party exchanges with China, deepen political mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields, enhance youth and cultural exchanges, and strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional affairs.
The meeting signifies a deepening of ties between China and Cambodia, setting the stage for increased collaboration and shared development in the years ahead.
Reference(s):
Xi calls for deepened exchanges, win-win situation with Cambodia
cgtn.com
