China is ready to work with Cambodia to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation and consolidate security cooperation to promote China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic cooperation and achieve high-quality development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Hailing the iron-clad China-Cambodia friendship, Wang said China has always placed the development of China-Cambodia relations at an important position in China's neighborhood diplomacy.

Noting that the two countries' law enforcement and security departments have achieved good results in jointly combating cross-border crime, Wang urged greater efforts to completely eradicate gambling and fraud.

Chenda Sophea said China has always been committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, adding that China's development will benefit the region, including Cambodia.

Speaking of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), Wang said it has effectively enhanced the well-being of the people of the six countries and promoted their development and revitalization.

He said China is willing to work with all parties, including Cambodia, to promote the overall development of the Indo-China Peninsula through the LMC and play a leading role in implementing the three global initiatives and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Launched in China in 2016, the LMC prioritizes five areas of cooperation: connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources management and agriculture, and poverty reduction.

The LMC countries are China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

(Cover via CFP)