Cambodian Princess Norodom Jenna extended warm greetings and presented a special welcome gift to Chinese President Xi Jinping when he arrived in Phnom Penh on Thursday.
The princess bestowed Xi with a jasmine flower bracelet -- a traditional good luck charm which holds deep cultural significance in Cambodia -- and delivered well wishes in Chinese to the arriving guests at the airport.
Xi is paying a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni, with this marking his second visit to the Southeast Asian country in nine years.
Speaking at the airport just ahead of Xi's arrival, Princess Jenna said she felt very happy and honored to present the flower bracelet to the Chinese president, and said she is also hopeful Xi's visit will help deepen ties between China and Cambodia.
"[His visit will] focus on our Cambodian-China friendship, which is going to make our Cambodian-China friendship [grow] even closely [through] his presence for this trip. So we're all very happy," she said.
The princess said she had recently visited China herself and hopes to have the chance to return to the country soon.
"Because I just came back. So, I will maybe go back very soon too," she said.
Cambodia marks the final leg of Xi's five-day, three-nation Southeast Asia tour which saw him complete state visits to Vietnam and Malaysia prior to arriving in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian princess presents welcome gift to Xi at airport
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
