Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Oct. 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk Thursday at the Royal Palace, vowing to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries. [Special coverage]
Noting that the China-Cambodian friendship was deeply rooted between the two peoples, Xi likened the frequent meetings between Chinese and Cambodian leaders to the gatherings of old friends and relatives, which not only represented special amity, but also played an important role in promoting bilateral ties.
On the profound friendship between the Cambodian royal family and China, Xi told Queen Mother Norodom Monineath that King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a respected and good friend of the Chinese people, as well as a symbol of China-Cambodia friendship.
China welcomes Queen Mother and King Norodom Sihamoni to take frequent trips to China and continue to regard China as their second homeland, said the president.
China stands ready to work together with Cambodia to carry forward their friendship jointly forged by leaders of previous generations and always be each other's ironclad friend, he said.
For her part, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath told Xi that the Cambodian people have long looked forward to his visit and believed that it would further promote the Cambodia-China traditional friendship.
The Cambodia-China ties serve as a model for cooperation with mutual trust between big and small countries, the Queen Mother said, adding that the unbreakable bilateral friendship has taken roots deeply in Cambodians' heart.
The Cambodian side is willing to join hands with the Chinese side to deepen exchanges and cooperation in all fields while passing on the friendship between their peoples from generation to generation, she said.
Before the visit, Xi had met with King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace and laid a wreath at the statue of King Father Norodom Sihanouk.8 Xi arrived at Phnom Penh Thursday noon for a state visit to Cambodia. It is his first trip to the Southeast Asian nation as president. In 2009, he paid an official visit to the kingdom as vice president.
