Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Sunday. Photo: China's Foreign Ministry

The traditional friendship between China and Cambodia was forged by the leaders of the older generation of the two countries and China is willing to work together with Cambodia to promote the construction of the China-Cambodia community of shared future to a new level, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Sunday.

Wang's visit to the country came about a week after the monarch signed a royal decree to designate Hun Manet, 45, as the new prime minister for a five-year-term following a request from former leader Hun Sen.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, arrived in Phnom Penh on Saturday for a two-day official visit. Cambodia is the last leg of his Southeast Asian tour, which has already taken him to Singapore and Malaysia.

During Wang's visit to Cambodia, he also met with Cambodian outgoing Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as incoming Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Wang told Sihamoni that standing at a new historical starting point, China is willing to work with the Cambodian side to promote the construction of the China-Cambodia community of shared future to a new level.

Positive results have been achieved as Wang had in-depth communication with the old and new ruling teams of Cambodia, also aligned development strategies of each country and planned the next-step cooperation, Wang said. 

Wang said it is firmly believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the model relationship between China and Cambodia featuring mutual respect, equal treatment and common development will achieve greater development.

We are willing to enrich the framework of China-Cambodia "six sides of diamonds" ... and promote the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" so as to accelerate the revitalization of Cambodia and wellbeing of the Cambodian people, Wang noted. 

Sihamoni said he sincerely admired China's world-renowned achievements and sincerely thanked China for its all-round support and assistance to Cambodia. 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and China, and it is also the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road initiative, which is of great significance. 

Cambodia firmly abided by the one-China principle, and carried forward the friendship between Cambodia and China, supported the new era of a China-Cambodia community with shared future to move toward high-quality, high-level, high-standard direction, and brought more benefits to the two peoples, Sihamoni said. 

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn told Wang during their meeting also on the same day that the new government of Cambodia will continue to firmly pursue a friendly policy toward China, abide by the one-China principle, support China's just position on China's internal affairs such as Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong, and strengthen communication and coordination in regional and multilateral affairs.

Global Times