Xi says China, Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh.

Xi arrived in the Cambodian capital city earlier in the day for a state visit at the invitation of King Sihamoni. This is Xi's second state visit to the Southeast Asian country in nine years.

During the meeting, Xi said it was a great pleasure to be invited to visit the beautiful country on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni's coronation and the Khmer New Year, and extended New Year greetings to the Cambodian people.

Noting that Cambodia's national construction endeavors are flourishing, Xi said he believes that under the blessing of King Sihamoni, the hard-working and intelligent Cambodian people will be able to build a more prosperous and stronger country.

Hailing the time-honored friendship between the two countries, Xi said that regardless of the changes in the international situation, China and Cambodia have remained committed to credibility and mutual assistance, and firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, setting a model for equality, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes.

China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, he added.

China cherishes its friendship with the Cambodian royal family and highly commends the important contributions made by the royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years, Xi said.

Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the older generation of Chinese leaders and late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the times, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development and improving people's livelihood, and in following a development path that suits its national conditions, Xi said.

China believes that the Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries, and that building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era will surely write a splendid chapter, the Chinese president added.

Sihamoni warmly welcomed Xi's visit on behalf of the Cambodian royal family, senate, government and all the people.

The Cambodia-China friendship was created and cultivated by the older generation of leaders of the two countries, he said, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened.

Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly appreciates the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by President Xi, and thanks the Belt and Road cooperation for bringing great development opportunities to Cambodia, said Sihamoni.

Xi's historic visit will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, and push the bilateral relations to a new level, he added.

Cambodia is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in multilateral mechanisms such as ASEAN-China cooperation and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, said Sihamoni.

Sihamoni presented Xi with "The Grand Necklace Order for National Independence of the Kingdom of Cambodia."

Sihamoni said Xi is a great friend of Cambodia as he has special friendly feelings for the country and has made outstanding contributions to promoting Cambodia-China relations.

The Cambodian king expressed his belief that under the leadership of Xi, China will make greater development achievements and play a more important role in international and regional affairs.

Xi said the order fully demonstrates the great importance Cambodia attaches to bilateral ties and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people, adding that the honor belongs not only to him personally, but also to all friendly personage who have contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia.

Cambodia is the third and last leg of President Xi's current five-day Southeast Asia tour, which also saw him pay state visits to Vietnam and Malaysia from Monday to Thursday.

Xi says China, Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes

Thursday was marked by grief and frustration in southern Türkiye's Kahramanmaras City, where funerals for the school shooting victims took place, and the city came together in mourning.

At least nine people were killed and 13 others wounded in the attack on Wednesday.

The attacker, an eighth-grade student at the same school who later committed suicide, had used a photo of a U.S. mass shooter as his profile picture on social media, according to the police. The father of the gunman - a former police officer whose weapons were used - has been taken into custody.

At the funerals, families clung to coffins during prayers, many of them in tears.

"Sadly, we lost the child of our colleague. We are in indescribable pain. I hope security measures will be in place in schools and that our students can come safely, because right now, we unfortunately don't even have the strength to go to school," said Emre Kurkut, a teacher.

At the house in mourning, Mustafa Kazici grieved over his 11-year-old daughter Suranur. He said she was among the first to be shot.

"Our pain is great. These may sound like familiar words, but they are words that truly reflect this moment and what we are going through," said the father.

Details of the incident have been emerging. As the attack unfolded, some students were seen jumping out of windows on the second floor, while it's been reported that the teacher who was killed died as she shielded her students, saving others. The school is now closed - at least until Monday.

Kutay Doluzengin, a student, said he arrived shortly after the first shots and is still shaken by what he saw.

"I felt like it was a massacre. I was scared. I kept thinking, what if it had been my sibling? What if it had been me? What if it had been my friend? What I would have done," said Doluzengin.

Amid his grief, Kazici also called for stronger security measures.

"There must be a police officer at the entrance of every school for security. Just as you cannot enter shopping malls without going through X-ray screening, I believe the same should be implemented in schools. Children's bags should be checked as well," said Kazici.

The government says it plans to introduce tighter school security, increase inspections, limit access to weapons, and expand psychosocial support.

The incident took place just one day after a school shooting in the Siverek district in southeastern Türkiye's Sanliurfa Province, where a former student at the school injured at least 16 people with a shotgun on campus before taking his own life.

Funeral held for victims of school shooting, as gov't vows to tighten school security