Li: Cooperation with Cambodia should rise (2)

China is willing to promote practical cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in trade, science and technology, communication and maritime issues to promote regional peace and development, he added.

Hun Sen said China's development has provided important opportunities for Cambodia and other developing countries.

He thanked China for its help and support in promoting Cambodia's socioeconomic development.

Cambodia welcomes and will provide convenience for more Chinese enterprises and tourists to the country, he said.

Enhancing cooperation between China and ASEAN will benefit both sides, and Cambodia will continue to play a positive role in this regard, said Hun Sen.

After their meeting, the two sides signed a number of deals, including agreements on economic and technical cooperation, loans by China to Cambodia for bridge and irrigation system development, grant aid for a vocational school on agriculture and a memorandum of understanding on an oil refinery project.

They also signed an action plan on the implementation of the China-Cambodia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.

Xu Liping, an expert on Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the cooperation deals are mostly about poverty reduction, an area in which China is experienced and can assist Cambodia.

The two countries have plenty of room to cooperate in multilateral forums including the East Asia Summit and China-ASEAN meetings, said Xu, noting that Hun Sen has clearly stated that Cambodia supports China's core interests.