Cambodian PM to pay official visit to China: FM

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will lead a high delegation to pay an official visit to China from April 6-10 in order to further enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

The visit is made at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the statement said, adding that during the visit, Hun Sen will pay a courtesy call on Chinese President Xi Jinping, have a meeting with Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and hold an official talk with Li Keqiang.

At the end of the visit, both sides will agree to mark the year 2013 as the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Cambodia and the "China- Cambodia Friendship Year", it said.

Both sides will sign a number of documents including the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Bank of Cambodia and China Banking Regulatory Commission, agreement on economic and technical cooperation, concessional loan agreements by China to Cambodia for bridge and irrigation system development, and grant aid for vocational school on agriculture.

In addition, the statement said, another two important agreements will be signed by both sides. One is the action plan on the implementation of the China-Cambodia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between Chinese government and Cambodian government, and the other is the Memorandum of Understanding on the 5 million tons oil refinery project among China Development Bank, China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, China Perfect Machinery Industry Corporation and Cambodian Petrochemical Company in the investment amount of 1.67 billion U.S. dollars.

On the sidelines, Hun Sen will deliver a speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013 to be held on April 6-8 at Boao, Hainan province of China.

Accompanying the premier during the forthcoming visit include deputy prime minister and defense minister Tea Banh, commerce minister Cham Prasidh, and other members of the government, it said.