Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a message of condolence to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni over the death of Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

President Xi said Prince Ranariddh was an important member of the Cambodian royal family and also a close friend of the Chinese people who had made positive contributions to the advancement of China-Cambodia relations.

Xi said he attaches great importance to consolidating and carrying forward traditional friendship between China and Cambodia, and stands ready to work with the Cambodian king to deepen the friendship between the two peoples and advance the continuous building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

Ranariddh died on Sunday in France at the age of 77. He was the second son of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and a half-brother of the current king.

He was also former co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997 and ex-president of the National Assembly from 1998 to 2006.

(Cover: Cambodian Prince Norodom Ranariddh speaks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, October 3, 2008. /CFP)