Chinese premier holds talks with Cambodian PM on bilateral cooperation

Li noted that China and Cambodia enjoy a deep traditional friendship, a high degree of political mutual trust, and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields.

In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a successful visit to Cambodia. In 2020, Xi awarded Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China, noting that both events marked new chapters in China-Cambodia friendship.

Pointing out that Hun Sen was the first foreign leader to visit China after the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, Li said he is very glad that his first trip abroad to Phnom Penh amid the almost three-year pandemic is to attend the East Asia leaders' meetings and pay an official visit to Cambodia.

He said China views all countries, regardless of their sizes, as equals and supports Cambodia in taking a development path that meets its national context and playing a more important role on international and regional platforms.

China stands ready to enhance high-level interaction and communication with Cambodia, support each other on respective core interests and major concerns, and promote continued and sound development of China-Cambodia relations to the benefit of their people.

Li pointed out that next year will mark the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding that it will be a good opportunity for them to make the multiple events under the China-Cambodia Year of Friendship a success.

China will increase imports of fine Cambodian agricultural products and support Cambodia in accelerating industrialization, he said.

The two countries will deepen cooperation on science and technology, education and culture, and increase direct flights, Li said, adding that China is ready to do its best to help Cambodia improve people's livelihood.

Stressing that a stable and prosperous Cambodia has great significance for regional stability, development and the growth of relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Li said that China fully supports Cambodia in hosting the leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation as the current Asean Chair, firmly supports Asean unity and centrality, support the Asean-led regional cooperation architecture as well as a bigger role of Asean in promoting international and regional peace and development.

For his part, Hun Sen said that Cambodia and China are iron-clad friends and the bilateral friendship is endorsed and supported by the Cambodian people. Noting that Cambodia firmly upholds the one-China policy and supports building the Cambodia-China community with a shared future, Hun Sen said that Cambodia will work with China to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.

After the meeting, Li and Hun Sen jointly witnessed the signing of more than 10 bilateral cooperation documents and inaugurated the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway.

On Wednesday afternoon, Li laid wreaths at the Independence Monument of Cambodia and the Statue of King Father Norodom Sihanouk.