[Chinese] Defense minister visits Cambodia to boost ties

PHNOM PENH, 27 May 2012 (Xinhua)- Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie arrived here on Sunday afternoon for a 4-day official visit to further strengthen ties with Cambodia and the ASEAN.

At the Phnom Penh's Military Airbase, Liang was warmly greeted by Moeung Samphan, secretary of state at Cambodia's Defense Ministry, and Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue, and other Cambodian senior defense officials.

According to a press release from Cambodia's Defense Ministry, Liang will hold a talk with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh on Monday. They will sign a memorandum of understanding on Cambodia-China cooperation.

He will also pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen during the visit.

Liang's visit coincided with the 6th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM), which is slated for May 28-30.

Speaking in a press briefing about the 6th ADMM at the Defense Ministry on Sunday afternoon, Tea Banh said, "It is the first time Liang Guanglie visiting Cambodia in order to strengthen friendship relations and cooperation between Cambodia and China, especially between the two countries' defense ministries."

He said that, on May 29, Liang will also hold a consultative meeting with the ASEAN Defense Ministers to build closer cooperation between China and ASEAN.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.