Senior CPC official meets Cambodian PM, hails longstanding friendship

Zhou Yongkang (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R), in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 20, 2011. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Visiting senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Zhou Yongkang met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Saturday, pledging further efforts to deepen the time-honored traditional friendship between the two countries.

Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said there has been rapid growth in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the fields of politics, trade and economy, and culture.

During his visit to China last year, the Cambodian prime minister and Chinese leaders lifted the bilateral ties to the level of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, writing a new chapter in the Sino-Cambodian traditional friendship, Zhou said.

Zhou, also secretary of the the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, said China and Cambodia should seize opportunities and meet challenges together.

He said the two countries should work to achieve the target of 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in bilateral trade at an early date, after it exceeded one billion dollars in the first half of this year.

China is ready to boost the the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership through the implementation of specific plans and projects between the two countries, thus bringing more tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

Zhou thanked Cambodia for its firm support to China on issues related to Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang, and also praised it for doing an exellent job in cooperating with China in cracking down on cross-border crimes. He also thanked Hun Sen for his outstanding contribution to the development of the China-Cambodian friendship.

Hun Sen said Zhou's visit would further help boost the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Cambodia will firmly adhere to the one China policy, and will never allow any foreign forces to disturb the overall situation of the China-Cambodia friendship, interfere in the internal affairs of both countries or undermine their security and stability at home, Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen thanked China for its longstanding, enormous assistance and support for Cambodia and hoped more and more Chinese enterprises would come and invest in his country.

He also hoped the two countries would further strengthen cooperation in development of infrustructure, including roads, bridges and irrigation works.

On Saturday, Zhou and Hun Sen also attended a signing ceremony for a number of cooperation agreements between the two countries.