China, Cambodia agree to further comprehensive, cooperative partnership

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- China and Cambodia agreed here Thursday to further promote bilateral comprehensive and cooperative partnership during the talks between China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin and Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations in the past five decades of diplomatic ties.

He said China attaches great importance to its relations with Cambodia and the Chinese side will work with the Cambodian side to explore potentials and continuously push forward bilateral partnership of comprehensive cooperation so as to achieve reciprocal and win-win results.

The further development of bilateral traditional friendship is the common aspiration of the two peoples, conforms to the fundamental interest of the two countries, and will contribute to regional prosperity and development, said Jia, who arrived here Tuesday on an official goodwill visit as Chea Sim's guest.

He said the Communist Party of China attaches importance to its relations with the Cambodian People's Party and Funcinpec Party, and the CPPCC will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Cambodian Senate.

Chea Sim said Cambodia takes China as a close friend, neighbor and cooperative partner, hoping that the two sides will actively push forward bilateral cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, tourism culture and education.

He also hoped that the two sides will enhance cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

Cambodia is the last leg of Jia's four-nation visit which has taken him to Jordan, Turkey and Laos.

Santa China brings goodies for naughty Hun Sen ... and $200 million in debt for future Khmer generation to pay back

Chinese Arrive With Millions in Aid

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
03 December 2008

Cambodia has put prime importance on Chinese financial assistance, which releases it from some international pressure, Prime Minister Hun Sen told a Chinese delegation Wednesday.

“Loans or grants from China have released Cambodia from certain kinds of political pressure from international countries,” a government spokesman said, quoting Hun Sen’s address to a delegation led by Chinese National Committee Chairman Jia Qingling.

The delegation, arriving late Tuesday and preceding an annual donor meeting by two days, signed over $200 million in aid that was promised at a summit in October and has been earmarked for the construction of a road from Preah Vihear province to Kampong Thom province.

The delegation also announced Wednesday nearly $14 million in further aid.

In exchange, Jia called on Phnom Penh to support and protect Chinese investments and to encourage bilateral cooperation in oil exploration and the mining of iron ore, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

China has emerged as a major donor to Cambodia, providing grants, loans, donations, such as ambulances and construction equipment, and military cooperation.

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu arrived in Cambodia Sunday, promising $300,000 to police and security forces.

China also pledged $91 million in aid at the donor meeting in 2007, making it Cambodia’s third-largest donor, ahead of the US.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Wednesday the more friends Cambodia had beyond those who share its borders, the better.

“Then, if we rely on China to prevent invasion from neighboring countries, it’s a good thing, to protect territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” he said.

China to promote Sino-Cambodian relations to new stage

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China will work with Cambodia to promote bilateral good-neighborly friendship and reciprocal cooperation to a new stage, said China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin here Wednesday at a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made a three-point proposal for furthering bilateral cooperation.

The first is to expand economic and trade cooperation of mutual benefit. The two sides should make joint efforts for an early realization of an annual bilateral trade volume of one billion U.S. dollars set for the year 2010.

The Chinese side supports reciprocal cooperation in various forms between enterprises of the two sides, and hopes the Cambodian side will provide facilities for bilateral cooperation.

The second is to strengthen cooperation in other fields such as culture, education, tourism and health, and expand exchanges between young people of the two countries.

The third is to enhance contacts between political parties of the two countries.

Jia, who arrived here Tuesday on an official goodwill visit as guest of Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim, said Sino-Cambodian friendship based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence conforms to the aspirations and fundamental interests of the two peoples.

China's policy on the development of bilateral friendship, which is part of China's foreign policy, will not change, said Jia, adding that China appreciates Cambodia's adherence to the one-China policy.

Jia also spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations in the past five decades of diplomatic ties.

Hun Sen said the Cambodian government attaches great importance to its friendly relations with China and will work with the Chinese side to expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields and strengthen coordination and support in international affairs.

He said China's development will not only benefit itself, but also contribute to peace and development of the region and the world at large.

Cambodia is the last leg of Jia's four-nation visit which has taken him to Jordan, Turkey and Laos.

Yet, another Chinese official visits Cambodia

China's top political advisor starts visit to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived here Tuesday, starting an official goodwill visit as guest of Cambodian Senate President Chea Sim.

In a written statement delivered upon arrival at the airport, Jia said China and Cambodia are friendly neighbors and the two peoples enjoy time-honored traditional friendship.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Cambodia friendship has grown from strength to strength, said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He said the two countries have carried out effective exchanges and cooperation in the political, economic and trade, cultural and other fields and maintained good coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

"The growth of China-Cambodia relationship not only serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also peace, stability and development of the region," said Jia, who will have an in-depth exchange of views with Cambodian leaders on issues of mutual interest for the purpose of cementing friendship, deepening mutual trust, promoting cooperation and pursuing common development.

He said he is confident that the visit will "be productive and contribute to the long-term stable growth of China-Cambodia good neighborly friendship and cooperation".

Cambodia is the last leg of Jia's four-nation visit which has taken him to Jordan, Turkey and Laos.