Interview: Chinese President Xi's visit to lift Sino-Cambodian ties to higher level -- Cambodian PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Cambodia will strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries and lift the Sino-Cambodian comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said here Wednesday in a joint written interview with Chinese media.

Hun Sen said China and Cambodia have enjoyed a traditional friendship that was cultivated by late Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other Chinese leaders of previous generations.

Over the past 25 years, friendly relations between the two countries, based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and mutual benefit, have witnessed remarkable progress and cooperation has been deepening in various areas.

In 2010, China and Cambodia established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, an upgraded version of bilateral ties. In 2014, the two countries set up an intergovernmental coordinating committee and have successfully held three coordinating meetings resulting in important achievements. Now the two sides are actively preparing for the fourth meeting, which is scheduled for the end of 2016 or early 2017 in Cambodia, Hun said.

He noted that high-level leaders of China and Cambodia have maintained close contacts and exchanged visits in recent years, a reflection of their close relations, and that the two sides will continue to work together through a number of international bodies, including the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation group.

Today the two countries face various challenges from the local to the international level, including economic development, regional security, terrorism, climate change and others, said Hun Sen, voicing hope that both countries work together to contribute to regional and international peace, stability and prosperity.

Hun Sen said he fully supports China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will witness the vast building of infrastructure and deepened trade and financial integration in Asia, Africa and Europe.

He said China's Silk Road Fund and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank could also benefit Cambodia'se economic and social development.

Hun Sen noted that during President Xi's visit to Cambodia, the two countries will sign a series of bilateral cooperative agreements to boost their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, something that would benefit the two peoples.

He believes that China has entered a stage of development featuring harmony, progress, and prosperity. And China has shared its development experience with countries around the world, and contributes greatly to the peace and stability of Asia and the world.

The prime minister said the visit will consolidate the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China, by which the two countries will continue to support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

Hun Sen reaffirmed that Cambodia adheres to the one-China policy and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence." He said that Cambodia will continue to work with China in the fields of defense, law enforcement, trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture and tourism, among others.

He also expressed hope that China and Cambodia will continue to promote friendship and understanding between youths of the two countries so as to cultivate successors for their friendship. By doing so, Hun Sen said,Cambodia and China will become good neighbors, good friends, good brothers and good partners from generation to generation. Endi