China supports Cambodia to host the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit later this month, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday, expressing hope that the summit will further promote practical cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Li made the remarks during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen via video link. Hun Sen said the two sides should enhance coordination and collaboration over the summit.
Cambodia will host the 13th ASEM summit via videoconference on November 25 and 26. The summit, originally scheduled for November last year, was postponed to mid-2021; dates were moved again to the last quarter of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Established in 1996, the intergovernmental ASEM comprises 53 partners, including 21 Asian countries, 30 European countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat and the European Union.
Li said China will continue to support Cambodia in following a development path suited to its national conditions and provide support and help to the country in fighting COVID-19, reviving its economy and improving people's livelihood.
With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement coming into effect soon, the two countries should strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, deepen infrastructure, production capacity and economic and trade cooperation, and promote regional economic integration and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, he said, adding that China is willing to import more quality agricultural products from Cambodia.
China firmly supports ASEAN's centrality in the regional architecture and supports ASEAN to play greater roles in regional and international affairs, said the Chinese premier. He added that China supports Cambodia to assume the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN next year.
Hun Sen hailed the "iron-clad" friendship between Cambodia and China and thanked China for supporting and helping with Cambodia's economic and social development.
Cambodia hopes to enhance cooperation with China in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, public health, education and culture, he said, calling for efforts to ensure that the bilateral free trade agreement takes effect next year as scheduled.