Li Keqiang Holds Talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen

On the afternoon of February 10, 2023, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Great Hall of the People during his official visit to China.

Welcoming Hun Sen to China for an official visit at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, Li Keqiang noted that over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Cambodia relations have increasingly deepened on the basis of mutual respect and treating each other as equals, with mutually beneficial cooperation yielding fruitful outcomes. Li said China attaches great importance to developing relations with Cambodia, and during President Xi Jinping’s friendly meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen, the two leaders agreed to build an even better China-Cambodia community with a shared future. China supports Cambodia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and will continue to offer assistance within its capacity to Cambodia with a view to achieving mutual benefit and win-win results. Li expressed the hope that the two sides will take the opportunity of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations to strengthen strategic communication, continue to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and step up people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to write a new chapter of China-Cambodia relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Noting the complementary advantages of China-Cambodia cooperation, Li Keqiang expressed the hope that the two sides will make good use of the dividends brought by the entry into force of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, strengthen industrial chain cooperation, and upgrade cooperation in such areas as trade and investment. China is ready to speed up the procedure for importing quality agricultural products from Cambodia, and work for more direct import of Cambodian agricultural products. Efforts will also be made to make good use of China-Cambodia cooperation mechanisms on production capacity, investment and others to upgrade cooperation in infrastructure construction. While advancing its own transition and upgrading of energy, China is ready to help Cambodia develop a green economy and achieve energy conservation and emission reduction. China has given priority to resuming and increasing direct passenger flights to and from Cambodia. Li Keqiang expressed the hope that the two sides will expand exchanges and cooperation in such areas as tourism and cultural heritage protection, step up cooperation on law enforcement and security, and work jointly to make the events marking the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship a success to bring the two peoples even closer.

Li Keqiang said that China and ASEAN are comprehensive strategic partners with a shared future, and have stood together through thick and thin. China always regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, firmly backs ASEAN's efforts to seek strength in unity and its centrality in regional cooperation, and supports ASEAN in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. China appreciates Cambodia's positive and constructive role in promoting the development of China-ASEAN relations when it held the ASEAN rotating presidency last year, and stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to boost new progress in the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and safeguard regional stability and world peace.

Hun Sen said that the Cambodia-China friendship is unbreakable and the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has continuously deepened. Cambodia is firmly committed to the one-China policy, and stands ready to take the opportunity of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and China to advance high-quality cooperation with China in politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy, finance, law enforcement and security, culture and other fields, and jointly build an even better Cambodia-China community with a shared future. Cambodia welcomes more Chinese tourists to the country. Hun Sen thanked China for its support for Cambodia's rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, and said that Cambodia is ready to work with China to deepen cooperation between ASEAN and China, promote regional connectivity and safeguard regional peace and development.

Li Keqiang and Hun Sen then jointly announced the launch of the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship and witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on diplomacy, economy and trade, development, infrastructure, and cultural heritage protection.

Prior to the talks, Li Keqiang held a welcoming ceremony for Hun Sen at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. After the talks, Li Keqiang held a welcoming banquet for Hun Sen.

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

On the afternoon of the same day, Hun Sen went to the Tian'anmen Square and laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.