Chinese premier visits former Cambodian king

Former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk had a residence in Beijing and had long history of excellent relationship with the Chinese leadership, dating back to Mao Tse-tung and Premier Zhou En-lai.

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk on Sunday, during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.
Wen extended the new year greetings to Sihanouk, and praised Sihanouk's outstanding contribution to promoting China-Cambodia friendship.
He thanked Sihanouk for his donations to China for disasters relief in snow stricken areas. Wen said this indicated the profound friendship to the Chinese people.
The premier expressed his confidence that the Chinese people could win the fight against the snow disasters.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and is a year of China-Cambodia Friendship. China would work with Cambodia to carry forward traditional friendship and increase bilateral cooperation to benefit the two peoples, Wen noted.
Sihanouk expressed appreciation for China's achievements, and thanked China for offering support to Cambodia's development. He hoped that the Cambodia-China friendship would achieve constant progress.
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen had visited the snow stricken areas to instruct the disasters relief work, and people there had shown the utmost fortitude to combat disasters. Sihanouk said he was deeply moved.
Sihanouk said he believed the Chinese people would definitely win the fight against the snow havoc.