Beijing (FN), Oct. 19 – Chinese president Xi Jingping supported Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet’s initiative to designate 2024 as the year of people-to-people exchanges aimed at promoting tourism and connectivity between countries.

The premier held a working meeting with Chinese president Xi Jingping on Thursday morning (Oct. 19) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

During the meeting, Chinese president Xi Jinping praised the progress made in China-Cambodia cooperation, as this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. At the same time, he also expressed his satisfaction with the frequent exchanges between both countries’ leaders, demonstrating the close friendly relations between China and Cambodia, and China pledged to enhance cooperation with Cambodia and will support the Pentagon strategy of Cambodian seventh mandate Royal Government.

In response, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and pleasure of meeting with Chinese president Xi Jingping again after the meeting last September, and conveyed a greeting message from Samdech Techo Hun Sen. He also congratulated China on the success of hosting the Third Belt and Road Forum on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the success of the 19th Asian Games, and thanked for cordially inviting Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni to preside over the opening ceremony of this international sports event in Hangzhou.

As a result, both leaders agreed to strengthen and expand existing good cooperation at a high and comprehensive level, especially by promoting the implementation of diamond hexagon cooperation and the establishment of the "Fish and Rice Corridor", "Industrial and Technological corridors". The two leaders also discussed the direction of further strengthening iron-clad friendship through increased cooperation in all fields, especially tourism, energy, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

On the occasion, Chinese president Xi Jinping also agreed on the initiative of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet to designate 2024 as the year of people-to-people exchanges between Cambodia and China, which is the key to boost tourism and trade cooperation as well as investment between the two countries.
=FRESH NEWS