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
