China, Cambodia pledge to further enhance ties

BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Cambodian leaders on Wednesday pledged to further enhance bilateral ties, two days after the two countries agreed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

"The establishment of this strategic partnership brings new opportunities for the development of bilateral ties," Chinese President Hu Jintao said when meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday afternoon in the Great Hall of the People.

China will maintain friendly exchanges with Cambodia at all levels, strengthen mutual support on major issues of concern, and deepen exchanges on experiences in managing state affairs, Hu said.

The president said the Chinese government and people value the traditional friendship with Cambodia, and will always support Cambodia to take its own development path.

Hu added that China will expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, finance, infrastructure construction, agriculture and energy, increase bilateral trade, enhance cultural, technological and youth exchanges, and maintain the two countries' coordination on regional and international affairs.

Hu also called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation in areas such as coping with the international financial crisis, disaster prevention and relief and combating cross-border crimes.

Hun Sen said Cambodia-China relations have entered a new stage after the two countries agreed to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

He said Cambodia will abide by the one-China policy and work with China to further promote bilateral ties.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo also met with Hun Sen Wednesday. During the meeting, Wu pledged to bolster exchanges and cooperation between the two states' legislative bodies.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, hailed the political, economic and cultural ties between China and Cambodia, saying the establishment of the strategic partnership will yield tangible benefits for the two peoples.

Wu said the two states' legislative bodies have, in recent years, carried out substantial dialogue between their leaders, special committees and staff, which contributed to the development of bilateral ties.

Hun Sen applauded the traditional friendship and pledged to promote exchanges between the two states' legislative bodies and to enhance coordination on major issues to promote bilateral ties.