Cambodian infrastructure focus of pacts

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (right) holds talks with visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan 22, 2019. (Photo/Xinhua)

Two nations to work on transportation, water, power facilities, Belt and Road

Eight cooperative agreements were signed between China and Cambodia on Tuesday to promote cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative and infrastructure, including water supply, highways and reservoir construction.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Before the ceremony, the two leaders had talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China will firmly support Cambodia on its path in line with its own national conditions, and better align the BRI with the country's development strategies, Li said.

Chinese companies are supported in their participation in Cambodia's infrastructure construction and operation in areas such as transportation, power generation and production capacity, he said. Li called on the neighboring country to provide necessary assistance.

The premier called on both countries to carry out key projects, including the special economic zone in the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, and the 2019 China-Cambodia Year of Cultural Tourism. The two countries should strengthen exchanges and coordination under the China-ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation frameworks, he said.

Li also articulated China's willingness to offer help in boosting Cambodia's development and improving the well-being of its people.

Hun Sen said China is a close partner for Cambodia. He congratulated the nation on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the achievements China has made over the past 40 years since reform and opening-up began.

Cambodia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in infrastructure, trade and agriculture, and expand people-to-people exchanges with closer cooperation in international and regional affairs, he said.

In January of last year, Li visited Cambodia to participate in the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Phnom Penh.

That year marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Hun Sen's trip to China was his first overseas trip this year, said Wu Jianghao, director of the Department for Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, at a briefing after the signing ceremony.

The two countries will make detailed action plans in political, economic, security and people-to-people areas, for building a community of a shared future with strategic significance, a key objective for Hun Sen's visit, Wu said.

Wu said the two neighbors will maintain high-level exchanges and strategic communications, promote economic cooperation in energy and other fields, and enhance alignment of each others' development strategies as well as cooperation in national defense and law enforcement.

In people-to-people exchanges, China and Cambodia will pay particular attention to strengthening exchanges between young people from the two countries, Wu added.