Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Cambodia

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Cambodia on Wednesday for a two-day visit to the country, during which he will attend the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting in the capital Phnom Penh.

Li co-chaired the meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

The Lancang-Mekong River connects the six countries together and also binds their destiny together, Li said.

Since its inception, the LMC has seen rapid development and fruitful results as it accords with the region's common willingness to seek development and unity as well as promote development, he said.

China is willing to work with all related parties to jointly review the progress made through the sub-regional cooperation mechanism and plan its future development, so as to push forward the mechanism from its nurturing period into the growing period and inject dynamism into regional development and prosperity, Li said.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen walks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang before they chair the second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, under the theme "Our River of Peace and Sustainable Development", in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, January 10, 2018. /Reuters Photo

During the meeting, Li discussed the future of cooperation with leaders of the other five LMC countries, visiting an exhibition on Lancang-Mekong cooperation outcomes with them, and holding bilateral meetings with leaders of some LMC countries.

On China-Cambodia ties, Li said the two countries are good partners and genuine trusted friends, adding that they value their ties and treat each other as true friends, with mutual respect, equal treatment and mutual support.

Noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia relations, Li said he expects the visit to renew friendship and discussed cooperation with the Cambodian side in efforts to jointly write a new chapter in China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, to better benefit the two peoples, and promote common development.

Under the theme of "Our River of Peace and Sustainable Development", the meeting is bringing together leaders from six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The discussions are expected to center on sub-regional cooperation in areas such as connectivity, water resource management and cross-border economic cooperation.

The Chinese premier is also scheduled to meet with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and hold talks with Hun Sen to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

(With input from Xinhua)