China, Cambodia vow to deepen legislative exchanges

Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang told visiting Cambodian lawmakers on Monday that the National People's Congress (NPC) is ready to deepen cooperation with the Cambodian National Assembly.

Zhang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, held talks with Cambodia's National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin in Beijing.

Cambodia and China are reliable brothers and sincere friends, with a good tradition of mutual support and help, Zhang said.

China values Cambodia's open and explicit support on the recent South China Sea arbitration case, he said.

Zhang said China is ready to work with Cambodia to cement political mutual trust, deepen comprehensive cooperation, and jointly push forward the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative.

Zhang called on the legislatures of the two countries to enhance exchanges, strengthen cooperation, and provide legal guarantee for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

He also suggested the two legislative bodies play a positive role in promoting people-to-people exchanges to consolidate public support for bilateral ties.

Heng Samrin said the traditional friendship between the two countries is valued by both people.

Cambodia highly appreciates China's important role in the international arena, he said, noting that the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative will support common prosperity for the countries along the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Cambodia will continue to take a just and fair position on the South China Sea issue and continue to support China, he said.

The Cambodian National Assembly is willing to deepen exchanges with the NPC to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two sides, said Heng Samrin.

China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng also met with Heng Samrin Monday. Endi