Xi Jinping Meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen

On February 10, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Xi Jinping pointed out that three years ago, Mr. Prime Minister visited China amid heavy snow and the epidemic onslaught, standing firmly with the Chinese people in our fight against COVID-19. This year marks the first year for China to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and also the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia. It is a  great pleasure to work with Prime Minister Hun Sen to realize the "three-year appointment" and jointly open a new era of building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future when the spring starts.

Xi Jinping stressed that China firmly supports the Cambodian people in independently choosing a development path suited to their national conditions, supports Cambodia in defending national sovereignty and security, supports Cambodia in steadily advancing its major domestic political agenda and economic and social development, and opposes external interference in Cambodia's internal affairs. China takes Cambodia as a key part of its neighborhood diplomacy and always plans and advances China-Cambodia cooperation in various fields from a holistic and strategic perspective. China is ready to share opportunities, seek cooperation and promote development with Cambodia in the process of advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, and jointly build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute more positive energy to regional peace, stability and development.

Xi Jinping noted that both sides may focus on the six areas including politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security and people-to-people exchanges to build a "diamond hexagon" cooperation framework between China and Cambodia. In politics, the two sides need to deepen strategic communication, strengthen the exchange of experience in governance, and deepen exchanges through various channels. In production capacity, the two sides need to focus on the building of the "industrial development corridor". China will encourage more Chinese companies to invest and do business in Cambodia, help build a multifunctional economic demonstration zone in Preah Sihanouk Province, and support Cambodia in building transportation infrastructure. In agriculture, the two sides need to focus on the building of the "fish and rice corridor" and carry out lakeside agricultural cooperation. In energy, the two sides need to ensure green development, and China will increase investment in hydropower and photovoltaic power generation projects in Cambodia. In security, the two sides should carry out the special operations to jointly combat cross-border crimes on a regular basis, and China will continue to provide Cambodia with mine-clearance assistance. In people-to-people exchanges, China will give priority to resuming and increasing its direct flights with Cambodia, encourage tourism cooperation, carry out the protection and restoration of cultural heritage, and support Cambodia in developing education and health. The two sides should take the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship as an opportunity to expand pair-up cooperation at sub-national levels, increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen youth exchanges, and carry forward the cause of China-Cambodia friendship.

Hun Sen said that he was glad to be the first foreign leader to visit just after the Chinese New Year. Whether it was the visit three years ago or this visit, he hoped to convey a clear message that the Cambodian people have always stood firmly with the Chinese people. The Cambodian side admires the great development achievements China has made, and believes that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will realize the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects as scheduled. Cambodia appreciates China's firm support for the Cambodian people in choosing a development path suited to their national conditions and its timely and valuable support and assistance when Cambodia faced difficulties such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cambodian side is firmly committed to the one-China policy, resolutely supports China in defending national sovereignty, security and development interests, firmly supports China's principle of "one country, two systems", and resolutely opposes any external interference in China's internal affairs on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang. Hun Sen expressed full agreement with China's proposal to advance the "diamond hexagon" cooperation framework. The Cambodian side hopes to take the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and China as an opportunity to further consolidate the ironclad friendship between the two countries, deepen the exchange of experience in party governance and state administration as well as practical cooperation in various fields, actively build the "industrial development corridor" and the "fish and rice corridor", work for more achievements of the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and jointly build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future. The Cambodian side is willing to continue to actively promote the development of ASEAN-China relations. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by China are of great significance to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. Cambodia actively supports and participates in these initiatives.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. Xi Jinping stressed, development is not the right of a small minority of countries. Engaging in ideological confrontation, politicizing and weaponizing economic, trade, scientific and technological exchanges, pushing for "decoupling and severing of industrial and supply chains", containing and suppressing the development of other countries, and asking regional countries to pick a side are power politics and hegemonic practice, which will find no support. China stands on the right side of history and will firmly defend national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as international fairness and justice.

After the meeting, Xi Jinping held a banquet for Hun Sen.

Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at the above events.