Chinese President Xi Jinping is greeted by senior Cambodian government officials and members of the royal family upon his arrival at the airport in Phnom Penh, Capital of Cambodia, for a state visit, Oct. 13, 2016. This is Xi's first trip to the country as president. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia from Thursday to Friday led to the signing of 31 cooperation documents, deepening the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. Following is a summary of the achievements the two sides have scored during the visit and the remarks the Chinese president made during the visit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Oct. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
STRONG TIES
The string of bilateral agreements signed are the results of high-level meetings held respectively between the Chinese president, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen. Xi also visited Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and laid a wreath at the statue of late King Norodom Sihanouk.
When meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni, Xi spoke highly of the traditional friendship between their countries and vowed to deepen all-round bilateral cooperation so as to achieve common development and prosperity.
King Sihamoni for his part voiced Cambodia's readiness to work with China to carry forward the traditional friendship and further enhance bilateral ties.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Oct. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
After talks between Xi and Hun Sen, a total of 31 cooperation documents were signed in a wide range of fields covering economy, technology, infrastructure, the fight against people trafficking, tax and maritime cooperation.
In a joint communique signed Thursday, China and Cambodia agreed to accelerate the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and China's 13th Five-Year Plan with Cambodia's Rectangular Strategy and Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025, while working to raise bilateral trade to 5 billion U.S. dollars by 2017.
China pledged more investment and cooperation with Cambodia in such fields as energy, telecommunications, agriculture, industry and tourism.
The two countries will also take measures to expand people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation in multilateral and international arenas so as to safeguard the shared interests of the two countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Oct. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
QUOTABLE QUOTES
"Hardship reveals true friendship," President Xi quoted an old Chinese saying in a signed article to describe the relationship with Cambodia, hailing the two countries as "good neighbors and true friends who treat each other with all sincerity."
"China values its special friendship with the Cambodian royal family and attaches great importance to the development of relations with Cambodia," Xi told King Norodom Sihamoni.
While meeting Queen Mother Monineath, Xi said the China-Cambodia friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen inaugurate the China Culture Center after their talks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Oct. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
In talks between Xi and Hun Sen, the two leaders agreed that their countries should continue to be "highly trusted friends, loyal partners and a community of shared destiny."
Noting that the friendship that was forged and cultivated by Chinese and Cambodian leaders of previous generations has grown even stronger, President Xi said that the current bilateral relationship is showing a positive momentum of development, with continuously enhanced political mutual trust, fruitful economic cooperation and closer coordination in multilateral affairs.
"China ... stands ready to work with Cambodia to constantly enrich the meaning of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, thus delivering more tangible benefits to both peoples," Xi said.
WARM WELCOME FROM CAMBODIANS
The Cambodians greeted Xi with his portraits and those of the Cambodian leader, national flags of the two countries in their hands, while the city of Phnom Penh was decorated with flowers, banners and large displays of both countries' landmarks.
Screenshot of users' comments on the Facebook page of China Xinhua News on Oct. 13, 2016.
Cambodian media highlighted Xi's landmark visit to Cambodia, widely reporting the notable agreements signed.
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Screenshot of users' comments on the Facebook page of China Xinhua News on Oct. 13, 2016.
In the eyes of some social media users, the visit showed that China is demonstrating its commitment to a peaceful development of itself and its efforts to promote prosperity of the world.
President Xi's visit would further strengthen the "deeply-rooted historical relationship" between China and Cambodia, and enhance the "unbreakable friendship," a netizen said on Facebook.
