China, Cambodia leaders move to strengthen relations

China's Vice President Xi Jinping (C) accompanied by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) greets Cambodian officials upon his arrival at council of minister in Phnom Penh December 21, 2009. Xi is in Cambodia for a three days official visit.

REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA - Tags: POLITICS)

By Lei Xiaoxun

China Daily

Visiting Vice-President Xi Jinping met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday, proposing four measures to further boost bilateral ties.

Xi said both sides should strengthen high-level contact and communication, deepen trade and economic cooperation, as well as work together on regional and international issues.

In addition to the meeting by the two leaders, China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China agreed to provide preferential loans to Cambodia. Details were not available yet as of yesterday.

Details on the four measures were also not available.

Xi also met with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Sunday. The vice-president said the countries' friendship dates back to ancient times and both sides have maintained close contact.

Xi said China is willing to enhance cooperation with Cambodia in various fields, noting that Cambodia's Siem Reap province has become a sister province with Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Myanmar tour

Cambodia is the last leg of Xi's four-nation Asian tour. During his earlier meeting on Sunday with Than Shwe, chairman of Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council, Xi said he hoped Myanmar would improve political stability, economic development and nationwide reconciliation.

"China believes the Myanmar side will settle problems through peaceful ways such as through dialogue and consultations to guarantee stability in its border area with China," he said.

Than Shwe said Xi's visit was significant to Myanmar-China ties. He also appreciated China's long-term support to Myanmar's social and economic development.

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country's biggest oil and gas producer, announced yesterday that it signed an agreement with Myanmar's Energy Ministry to receive exclusive rights to build and operate the China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline.

The 771-km pipeline, extending from Maday Island in western Myanmar, to Ruili, Yunnan province, is expected to have an initial capacity of 22 million tons of oil a year.

Myanmar and China share a long borderline. Than Shwe said that Myanmar recognized the importance of peace and stability in the border area and pledged to continue working with China.

In late August, about 37,000 inhabitants on the Myanmar border crossed into China after an armed conflict broke out.

The incident originated from a standoff on Aug 8 between Myanmar army troops located in Laukkai, capital of Kokang region, and ethnic minority forces in the area. Armed conflicts triggered a large outflow of border inhabitants into neighboring Yunnan's Nansan area.

As a response to the incident, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China hoped Myanmar would maintain peace and stability. "Based on humanitarian principles, China took rescue and relief measures actively to help Myanmar border inhabitants settle down," Jiang said.