Xi extends hand of friendship

Furthering links with Cambodia

President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed China's support for Cambodia in attaining stability and development, stressing that the two nations should expand exchanges and cooperation in education, culture and youth to deepen their bilateral friendship.

Speaking during a meeting on Saturday with King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, Xi underscored that China highly values its special friendship with the Cambodian royal family and attaches great importance to the development of China-Cambodia relations.

He noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of his proposal of the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, saying that China-Cambodia relations epitomize this principle and China's commitment to develop and maintain good partnerships with its neighbors.

He reiterated China's support for Cambodia to follow a path of development that suits its national conditions and to play an important role on the international and regional stage.

Both sides should maintain high-level exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, move forward with the "diamond hexagon" bilateral cooperation framework — a multifaceted program that was announced in February — and deliver on its initiatives, such as the "industrial development corridor" and the "fish and rice corridor", he said.

Sihamoni said under the strong leadership of President Xi, China, after hosting two Asian Games in 1990 and 2010, will once again present a spectacular sports event to the world and make new contributions to promoting unity and friendship within the Asian family.

The Cambodian people will always remember the brotherly friendship between the late Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chinese leaders, and cherish the unbreakable friendship between the two countries, he said. He also fully endorsed Xi's neighborhood diplomacy policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.