Senior Chinese military official visits Cambodia on ties

PHNOM PENH, March 15 -- Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and chairman of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, arrived here Saturday night for a three-day visit to further enhance bilateral ties and cooperation.

At the Phnom Penh International Airport, Sun Jianguo was cordially welcomed by Gen. Eth Sarath, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and senior colonel Wang Ximao, military attache of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, as well as other dignitaries. "The visit is very important to further strengthen and expand long-lasting military relations and cooperation between our two countries,"Eth Sarath said at a greeting ceremony at the airport, expressing sincere and heartfelt thanks to China for continued support to the RCAF in human resources development.

Meanwhile, he also extended deep concerns over the safety of the passengers aboard the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished over south Vietnam on March 8, and expressed condolences to the Chinese government and the family members of the passengers on board the missing plane.

During the visit, Sun Jianguo is scheduled to meet separately with RCAF's commander-in-chief Gen. Pol Saroeun and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh on Monday.