Chinese president meets Cambodian king  

习近平会见柬埔寨国王西哈莫尼和太后莫尼列

Chinese President Xi Jinping(2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan(1st R), meet with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (2nd L), and his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk(1st L), in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2014. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi said the Cambodian royal family has made historic contribution to the bilateral relationship, highlighting late Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk's role in cultivating the China-Cambodia friendship with former Chinese leaders.

Lauding Sihamoni and Monineath as old and good friends of the Chinese people, Xi said the Chinese are highly appreciative of the king firmly pushing ahead with a friendly policy toward China.

"We very much cherish the friendship with the Cambodian royal family," Xi said, adding that he is glad to find Sihamoni and Monineath well and energetic.

Hailing the current China-Cambodia ties, Xi said China attaches great importance to the relations with Cambodia, and will firmly stick to a friendly policy toward Cambodia, support Cambodia's adherence to the development path chosen on its own and, as always, back Cambodia's push for development.

China stands ready to work with Cambodia to open up a brighter future of bilateral ties and carry forward their friendship from generation to generation, said the Chinese president.

Expressing their gratitude for China's assistance and support for Cambodia, the Chinese government's care for late King Sihanouk and themselves, Sihamoni and Monineath said they are happy to see the smooth development of the Cambodia-China relationship as well as China's achievements in development.

The Cambodian royal family will follow the China-friendly policy started by late King Sihanouk and continue to make efforts to enhance the bilateral ties in a sustained way, they said.