Latest News:  

English>>Foreign Affairs

China's top political advisor arrives in Cambodia for ex-King Sihanouk's funeral

(Xinhua)

07:20, February 04, 2013

Jia Qinglin (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, arrives in Phnom Penh to attend the royal cremation ceremony of the late Cambodian former King Norodom Sihanouk in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Feb. 3, 2013. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, arrived here Sunday afternoon to attend the royal cremation ceremony of the late Cambodian former King Norodom Sihanouk, which will be held on Monday.

At the Phnom Penh International Airport, Jia was cordially greeted by Long Visalo, Secretary of State at Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During his stay in Cambodia, he will meet with Sihanouk's wife Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen to convey the grief of the 1.3 billion Chinese people to them over the passing-away of the King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the eldest son of Sihanouk and former Prime Minister of Cambodia, told Xinhua Saturday that "the visit of Jia Qinglin is a testament to prove excellent and strong relationship and cooperation between China and Cambodia."

Prince Sisowath Thomico, the spokesman for the Royal Cabinet and former aide to the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, said Jia ' s visit is a big honor for Cambodia.

"It is the symbol of the friendship and the fraternity that links Cambodia to China; it is a big honor for Cambodia to have a respected leader of the People Republic of China attending the royal funeral," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Saturday.

"Both countries are linked together. I do not believe that anything could break that relationship, and we will further improve cooperation, friendship relations with the People Republic of China," the Prince said.

Besides Jia, a number of foreign leaders including French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar C. Binay, and Japan's Prince Akishino will also take part in the cremation ceremony on Monday.

Born on Oct. 31, 1922, Sihanouk ruled Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni.

Sihanouk died naturally and peacefully at the age of 90 in China's capital of Beijing on October 15, last year.

We Recommend:

Philippines' efforts in S. China Sea issue go in vain

Not all Peninsula issues China's problem

New aspects in US Asia-Pacific strategy

US should not put new burden on itself

Purpose of Japanese politicians' China tour

Taiwanese, Japanese ships confront near Diaoyu Islands

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:陈丽丹、王金雪)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Weekly review of military photos(January28-February 1)

  2. 33 dead, 121 injured in explosion at Mexican oil giant Pemex

  3. Israeli president tasks Netanyahu with forming new gov't

  4. Cold snap brings snow to most parts of China

  5. Going home or going away?

  6. In pics: bridge collapse accident site in central China

  7. Psy stages first commercial show on Chinese mainland

  8. Cinema guide for Spring Festival 2013

  9. 42nd World Money Fair held in Berlin, Germany

  10. Gold price more sensitive to bad news

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. China's year of challenges
  2. Rice imports not a threat to food security
  3. Getting workers their wages on time
  4. Clean Your Plate Campaign
  5. On the Road to Recovery
  6. The Internet needs a safety net
  7. Pollution prompts concern
  8. System needed to help patients
  9. China's reliance on oil-gas imports growing
  10. China needs strategic balance in Asia-Pacific

What’s happening in China

H.K. limits visitors' buying of infant formula

  1. Police chief sacked for concealing son's crime
  2. 4% of migrant workers suffer wage default
  3. 4.8-magnitude quake hits sea off Taiwan: CENC
  4. Reservoir leak results in casualties in Xinjiang
  5. 13 dead, 21 injured in SW China road accident