Chinese premier reaffirms friendly policy with Cambodia (2)

BEIJING, Jan. 2 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reaffirmed on Thursday China's friendly policy toward Cambodia and eyed further cooperation between the two countries.

"China and Cambodia are old friends sharing mutual trust and long-term friendship. The Chinese government always pursues a friendly policy toward Cambodia, and supports the Cambodian government to promote its economic development and to play a bigger role in international and regional affairs," Li said in a meeting with visiting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.

Hor Namhong is in Beijing to co-chair the first meeting of the China-Cambodia Inter-governmental Coordination Committee with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

The two sides defined in the meeting the next-step goals and measures for boosting cooperation in the areas of economics and trade, agriculture, defense, law-enforcement and culture.

"The successful meeting injected new vitality into the cooperation between China and Cambodia," Li said.

He called on the two sides to deepen cooperation in priority areas and turn their good political relationship into motivation for cooperation and to benefit the two peoples.

Hor Namhong said the first meeting of the committee scored fruitful results. He said the Cambodian government attaches high importance to relations with China and will conduct close cooperation with China and implement the results of the meeting to further push forward friendly ties.

Li also briefed Hor Namhong on China's economic situation, saying China's economy achieved hard-won stable operations and growth in 2013, despite the complex influence exerted by new changes in the global economic development situation on emerging market economies.

China will continue to make progress while maintaining stability, maintain reform and innovation, and ensure economic operations within a reasonable range, he said.

China will also further deepen comprehensive reform and opening up, improve the quality and efficiency of the economy, promote long-term and stable development, and contribute to the recovery of the world's economy, the premier added.

Hor Namhong said China's development is of great importance to the region's peace and progress. He also thanked China for its long-term selfless assistance and great support.