Chinese President Xi Jinping met Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday and the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Hun Sen is in Beijing after attending the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which concluded over the weekend.

Xi said Cambodia is a loyal friend to China, and China is willing to strengthen its traditional friendship with Cambodia.

He called for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future and to elevate bilateral ties to a higher level.

The two countries should deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, especially on airport and road infrastructure projects, Xi said.

China welcomes Cambodia to join an international trade corridor initiative connecting China's southwestern regions to Singapore, Xi said.

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity is a network of railway links from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality to the port of Qinzhou in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which further connects to Southeast Asia by sea. The new trade route was upgraded in January with more Chinese provinces joining in.

On his side, Hun Sen praised the Belt and Road Initiative, saying it has become a model for multilateral cooperation. He noted that Cambodia is one of the countries that have benefited from the initiative. He also echoed Xi's words and showed readiness to deepen cooperation under the framework.