Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that he is willing to work with Cambodian side to continuously lift their countries' relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation to new levels.

Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and the Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Noting that China cherishes its deep friendship with the Cambodian royal family, Xi thanked them for their help and the condolence message they sent when the coronavirus epidemic broke out in China.

The Cambodian king has completed his three-day visit to Yan'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi said the king's visit followed the footstep of King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother 50 years ago, which is a journey of friendship and heritage.

King Sihamoni expressed appreciation, and said he would continue to make efforts in deepening the ties.

"I am ready to work with President Xi Jinping to inherit and carry forward the profound friendship between the older generation of leaders of the two countries and to write a new chapter of friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China," he said.

Friendship Medal

In a separate ceremony on the same day, Xi also presented a Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China, China's highest honor for a foreigner, to the Queen Mother.

Calling the Queen Mother as an important witness and promoter of bilateral friendship, the Chinese president spoke highly of Queen Mother's important contribution in promoting China-Cambodia relations.

"For more than 60 years, the Queen Mother has actively devoted herself to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship and witnessed the development of new China," Xi noted.

"She has a special affection for the Chinese people and actively supports exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all fields, making outstanding contributions to promoting the development of China-Cambodia relations and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples," he added.

Xi stressed that in the 62 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Cambodia have always supported and helped each other, forging an unbreakable "iron-clad" friendship and becoming a community of shared future with strategic significance.

The relationship between the two countries has undergone all kinds of tests, which set an example of how two countries should treat each other, Xi pointed out.

The royal family of Cambodia has played an irreplaceable and important role in this regard, President Xi said, adding that China is willing to work with the Cambodian side to inherit and carry forward the traditional friendship between two sides so that the China-Cambodia relations can be energized in the new historical period and create more benefits for the two peoples.

Queen Mother Monineath expressed great thanks for Xi awarding the Friendship Medal to her, saying it reflects Chinese people's friendship and brotherhood towards her and towards Cambodian people.

"For a long time, China has firmly supported Cambodia's just cause and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity, national peace, national unity and the development of various undertakings."

She said the Cambodian people will work with the fraternal Chinese people to consolidate traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and push forward the development of Cambodia-China relations.