China, Cambodia celebrate 60 years of friendship

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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia diplomatic relations which are rooted in the cultural similarities and amity between the two peoples, and have illustrated the strong vitality of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Over the past six decades, China and Cambodia have maintained close cooperation in international and regional affairs, and benefited from the conformity between the development strategies and the economic development of the two countries.

The number 60 symbolizes perfection, good times and a new beginning, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a reception to mark the anniversary on Wednesday.

Chinese dancers perform during a gala dinner celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 2, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

'True friends as brothers'

China is a "true friend" of Cambodia, Ek Sam Ol, president of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, said at a banquet gathering high-profile officials from the two countries early this year.

The relations have deep roots, and "our relations are not just as friends, but as brothers," Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong said in an interview last month.

Leaders of the two countries have always made efforts to maintain the friendship, and overcome many obstacles in order to lead the countries and their citizens toward progress, prosperity and harmony, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at a gala dinner on July 2 to celebrate the 60th anniversary.

Here is a quick look at China-Cambodia cooperation.

CGTN Infographic made by Jia Jieqiong

Achievements in bilateral cooperation

Hun Sen thanked China for always providing financial and technical support to Cambodia for the development of human resources and infrastructure, saying that the support was vital to contributing to Cambodia's socio-economic development.

In 2017, the trade volume between the two countries reached 5.8 billion US dollars, up 22 percent year-on-year. The fixed asset investment from China climbed to 1.43 billion US dollars, 27 percent of the total investment in Cambodia. The number of visiting Chinese tourists rose to over 1.2 million, injecting around 700 million US dollars into the Cambodian economy.

So far, the total length of finished and under-construction roads is more than 3,000 kilometers. The eighth Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge was inaugurated on February 9. Chinese-invested power plants account for about 80 percent of total electricity output in Cambodia.

Among the Chinese-Cambodian collaborations on infrastructure, the 25,000 kilometer submarine optical fiber cable, linking Asian, African and European countries, enabled Cambodia for the first time to have independent international bandwidth exports.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen attend a highway opening ceremony in Cambodia, June 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

BRI: Golden opportunity

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Cambodia's Rectangular Strategy complemented and reinforced each other.

Hun Sen praised the BRI, saying that it would strengthen partnership and promote the "win-win" development among countries through connectivity cooperation of physical infrastructure, institution and people, businesses, finance, culture and other key sectors.

The BRI has been providing a "golden opportunity" for China and Cambodia to further deepen all-round cooperation, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said in an interview last Friday.

"On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the government and people of China for assisting Cambodia in all fields without any strings attached," Namhong said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo gives a speech at a gala dinner in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia diplomatic relations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

Next 60 years: Sharing weal and woe

Looking ahead to the next 60 years, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said that we have every reason to believe that the cooperation between China and Cambodia in bilateral, regional and international arenas will be more and more extensive.

Xiong made the remarks at a gala dinner to commemorate the 60th anniversary earlier this July, noting that the deep cooperation will bring more benefits to people of the two countries.

China would always be a good friend and a good partner of Cambodia, sharing weal and woe, Xiong stressed.

China and Cambodia have taken the lead in building a strategic community with a shared future, and will make important contribution to the shaping of a new form of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, win-win cooperation as well as a community with a shared future for the region, Xiong said.