China, Cambodia vow to cooperate on production capacity projects

China would like to cooperate with Cambodia on key production capacity projects, as well as investment and agriculture, to help the Southeast Asian country develop more and improve livelihoods, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.

Li spoke about further cooperation while meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is paying an official visit to China. Hun Sen attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Sunday and Monday.

Witnessed by the two leaders, the two countries signed cooperation documents in areas including infrastructure, finance, maritime research and tourism.

During the talks, Li highlighted the China-Cambodia friendship cultivated by generations of leaders of both nations. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia last year has developed the China-Cambodia friendship under the situation of the new global economy and politics, Li said.

Noting that China is dedicated to upgrading cooperation with Cambodia, Li expressed the willingness of connecting development strategies with Cambodia and improving the quality and quantity of bilateral trade.

The premier also proposed enhancing defense and law-enforcement cooperation and strengthening exchanges in areas including education, tourism, protection of historic relics, medicine and health.

China supports Cambodia in playing a positive role through regional and sub-regional platforms to establish a stable, peaceful and prosperous community of shared destiny, Li said.

Next year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, and Cambodia will host the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation meeting next year.

Calling Hun Sen "an old friend of the Chinese people", Li said that the Cambodian prime minister's official visit to China is expected to inject new impetus into China-Cambodia relations.

Cambodia cherishes its traditional friendship with China, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia would like to implement the consensuses reached by the leaders of both sides.

The two countries should keep high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, water projects, science and technology, tourism, law enforcement and security, Hun Sen said.

The Cambodian prime minister congratulated Li on the success of the Belt and Road Forum of International Cooperation.

Cambodia is willing to push forward the development of China-ASEAN relations and enhance the Lancang-Mekong cooperation, Hun Sen said.