Interview: Xi's visit to open new era for China-Cambodia partnership -- Chinese ambassador

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Cambodia will surely open a new era in the fast-growing China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, a Chinese diplomat said here on Thursday.

Xi's visit will further bolster the partnership and strengthen ties in a number of fields, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said in an interview with Xinhua.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Phnom Penh on Thursday for a state visit to Cambodia aimed at further solidifying the traditional friendship between the two countries.

This is Xi's first trip to the Southeast Asian nation as president, and also the fourth visit paid by a Chinese president to the country, Xiong said, calling Xi's visit a milestone in the history of diplomatic ties between China and Cambodia.

Xi's visit to Cambodia, a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will also vigorously boost China's relations with the bloc while bearing far-reaching significance for peace and stability in the region, Xiong said.

China-Cambodia ties are defined by their long-term, traditional friendship, he said.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni visited China in June, and Xi's visit to Cambodia will continue to write a new chapter in friendly relations between the two countries, Xiong said.

The Chinese ambassador described China and Cambodia as "good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners."

Another feature in China-Cambodia ties is the fact that the two countries have always understood, respected and supported each other in international and regional affairs, he said.

Cambodia has always supported China as a responsible major country in maintaining world peace and stability, while China supports Cambodia's independent, neutral and non-aligned stance in international affairs and its influential role in international and regional affairs as an ASEAN member, Xiong said.

Looking forward to the future, Xiong said that the two countries will continue to maintain frequent high-level contacts and political communications to carry forward the their traditional friendship.

Cambodia is set to be a key country in the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China and a key destination for cooperation in production capacity, the Chinese diplomat said.

China will play a bigger role in the development of infrastructure, agriculture and tourism in Cambodia, as well as the improvement of the Cambodian people's livelihood, he said.

China and Cambodia will continue to work together in international and Asian affairs, and jointly strive to boost China-ASEAN ties while maintaining peace and stability in the region, he added. Endi