Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen met Thursday in Phnom Penh with Wei Jianxing, standing committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China ( CPC) Central Committee.
Wei, also member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed greetings of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to Hun Sen. He spoke highly of the outstanding achievements made by the Cambodian people under the leadership of King Norodom Sihanouk and the Cambodian government headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Sen expressed warm welcome to the CPC delegation headed by Wei Jianxing. He said that the Cambodian government and people highly appreciate the great results the Chinese people have achieved in the opening and reform drive and modernization construction under the leadership of the CPC.
He said that in recent years the Chinese economy has had rapid development, especially worth noting is that the Chinese government has pursued the policy of maintaining a stable exchange rate of Renminbi after the Asian financial crisis in 1997, which made great contributions to stabilizing the economic situations in the Asian Pacific Region and promoting regional peace, progress and development.
He congratulated China for its entry into the World Trade Organization, expressing the belief that as a member of the WTO, China will play an active role in both the global economic field and international affairs as a whole.
When talking about Sino-Cambodian relations, Wei Jianxing said that China and Cambodia are close neighbors with deep-set traditional friendship, and are also models of mutual support and sincere cooperation. China pays great attention to Sino-Cambodian traditional friendship, appreciates and thanks Cambodia for its adherence to the "One China" policy, and respects the social system chosen by the Cambodian people themselves and the development model that is suited to the conditions of Cambodia.
He said that China is willing to work together with the Cambodian side to actively promote Sino-Cambodian good-neighborly cooperative relationship, which is of strategic importance, and sincerely carry out the Joint Declaration on mutual cooperation signed by the two sides when President Jiang Zemin visited Cambodia, actively develop new ways for economic and trade cooperation, and further deepen mutual understanding and belief, so as to be good neighbors, good friends and good partners forever.
Wei also briefed the prime minister on China's domestic conditions and views on international situation.
Hun Sen said that great progress has been made between the two countries and the ruling parties in recent years. The two countries have broad common views on not only bilateral relations, but also on regional and international affairs. The Cambodian government and people are thankful to the Chinese government and people for their support and aid of all kinds over the past many years.
He said in the new century the Cambodian side will continue to adhere to the "One China" policy and is willing to work together with the Chinese side to make even greater efforts to develop the traditional friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries.
Wei and his delegation arrived here Thursday afternoon for an official friendly visit at the invitation of the Cambodian People' s Party and Funcinpec Party. He also met with senior officials of the two parties Thursday.
( December 14, 2001)
