Chinese VP confident about future ties with Cambodia

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China-Cambodia relations will continue to grow in vitality, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said on Thursday at a reception commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of late Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Noting that the late King Father was the beloved "father of independence" to Cambodians and a great friend to the Chinese people, Wang said that he got along well with successive Chinese leaders and made indelible contributions to the China-Cambodia friendship.

As 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, it is understood that China-Cambodia relations will continue to grow in vitality with the joint efforts of both sides, Wang said.

Prior to the reception, Wang met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, acknowledging that the King and the Queen Mother have long been committed to bolstering friendship between China and Cambodia, as the late King Father had wished.

Under the new circumstances, China is ready to work with Cambodia to build an unbreakable China-Cambodia community with a shared future under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, Wang said.

Thanking China for organizing a series of activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the late King Father's birth, King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath stressed that Cambodia is willing to work with China to further advance practical cooperation in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level.