Senior CPC official meets Cambodian king

Senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Yunshan met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh on Thursday.

During the meeting, Liu recalled late King Father Norodom Sihanouk's great contribution to the China-Cambodia relationship and spoke highly of King Sihamoni's commitment to consolidating and developing the friendship between the two countries.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, arrived in Phnom Penh Wednesday afternoon for an official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the Funcinpec Party.

Cambodia is the last leg of Liu's four-country tour, following his trips to Belarus, Ukraine and Sri Lanka.

Liu said China will, as always, continue attaching great importance to the ties with Cambodia and firmly supporting Cambodia's adherence to its development path, and hopes that the Southeast Asian country will remain united and stable, and keep its momentum of development.

China will make efforts with Cambodia to maintain high-level visits to each other, enhance economic cooperation, expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate communication and coordination in major international affairs to make sure that the two will be good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers forever, said the CPC official.

King Sihamoni said the Cambodia-China friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people in the two countries. He thanked the Chinese side for their long-standing care and help for Cambodia.

The king said he believes that Liu's visit to Cambodia at an important time is helpful for Cambodia's stability and development as well as for the further enhancement of the all-around strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, and the two sides observe the year as a "China-Cambodia Friendship Year."