Khmer-Chinese and overseas Chinese attend a dinner with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 4, 2017. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen had a dinner with about 5,240 Khmer-Chinese and overseas Chinese in the country on Saturday, the first largest gathering he made with the Chinese community. (Xinhua/Sovannara)
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen had a dinner with about 5,240 Khmer-Chinese and overseas Chinese in the country on Saturday, the first largest gathering he made with the Chinese community.
Speaking before the dinner, Hun Sen said Khmer-Chinese and overseas Chinese had greatly contributed to socio-economic development and encouraged them to continue their contributions to Cambodia-China relationship.
"From here, I'd like to appeal to all Khmer-Chinese to support the implementation of cooperation between Cambodia and China within the frameworks of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation and the Belt and Road initiative," he said.
The prime minister also told them to help attract more Chinese investors and tourists to Cambodia, saying that Cambodia and China expected to see a 5-billion-U.S.-dollar trade volume in 2017.
In addition, he called on the Khmer-Chinese to join him to protect peace and stability in the country.
Pung Kheav Se, president of the Association of Khmer-Chinese in Cambodia, said the prime minister's presence at the dinner clearly reflected the government's high attention to the Chinese community.
"The Khmer-Chinese will continue to support the Cambodian government's policy in building national economy and developing society," he said, pledging to encourage Khmer-Chinese to attract more Chinese investors to Cambodia.
According to Pung Kheav Se, about one million Khmer-Chinese and overseas Chinese, including 800,000 Khmer-Chinese and 200,000 overseas Chinese, are living in Cambodia.
The kingdom has 50 Chinese schools with some 50,000 students, he said.
