Premier Li Keqiang Holds Talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Stressing China and Cambodia Are True Friends and Good Partners Sharing Weal and Woe

MFA China 2013/04/08

On April 8, 2013, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Great Hall of the People.

Li said this year marks the 55th anniversary of China-Cambodia diplomatic ties and the China-Cambodia Friendship Year. China and Cambodia are true friends and good partners sharing weal and woe (sic!), Li said, adding that China will firmly adopt a friendly policy toward Cambodia. China is willing to work with Cambodia to push bilateral relations to bear more fruits.

Li said currently China and Cambodia are both in the critical period of national development and they could make use of their respective advantages based on their own development strategies to achieve shared prosperity. First, the two sides should strengthen strategic communication and conduct coordination on bilateral relations and major issues of common concern. Li urged both sides to strengthen institutional building and carry out the action plan on China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership. Second, both sides should deepen pragmatic cooperation and focus on cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure construction, energy, telecom and irrigation. China will encourage its businesses to invest in Cambodia, continue to import rice and other competitive agricultural products from Cambodia, promote steady growth of bilateral trade and strive to fulfill the target of 5 billion U.S. dollars for bilateral trade by 2017. China will beef up support for Cambodia's efforts in developing independently and improving people's livelihood, according to Li. The two sides should identify specific cooperation projects and push for their implementation as soon as possible. Third, both sides should enhance cultural exchange and well hold the China-Cambodia Friendship Year. He called for expanded exchanges between the two countries in culture, education, tourism and civil aviation and invited more Cambodian youths to study in China. Fourth, both sides should enhance cooperation on law enforcement and security and fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and cross-border crime. Fifth, both sides should strengthen multilateral coordination and keep closer communication in international organizations, regional and sub-regional multilateral affairs. The premier said that China would like to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to push forward pragmatic cooperation in fields including free trade areas, technology, interconnection and interworking and maritime affairs, and promote regional peace and development.

Hun Sen said China's development provides an important opportunity for the development of Cambodia and other Asian and developing countries. He thanked China for its selfless assistance and precious support to Cambodia, which contributed to Cambodia's economic and social development. He fully agreed with Premier Li's ​​positive comments on bilateral relations and his proposals on further development of the ties. He said Cambodia is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China, improve cooperation mechanisms and continue to firmly support each other to benefit the two peoples. Cambodia welcomes more businesses and tourists from China and will provide convenience in this regard. He said deepening cooperation between the ASEAN and China will benefit both sides. Cambodia is willing to play a positive role in enhancing the healthy development of ASEAN-China relations, he added.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended a ceremony where relevant cooperation documents were signed.

Prior to the talks, Li held a welcome ceremony for Hun Sen at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People and the two reviewed the guard of honor of the three services of the PLA.