Phnom Penh (FN), Mar. 18 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen had a telephone conversation with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

According to a delegate minister Kao Kim Hourn, the two leaders touched on Cambodia-China bilateral relations and various issues at the bilateral, regional and global levels.

President Xi Jinping said that the Cambodia-China free trade agreement has now taken effect, therefore China will import more rice and other agricultural products such as bananas, mangoes and lentils, which could help reduce poverty in Cambodia.

The president also announced his support for development projects in Cambodia, especially infrastructure development. He also announced to donate 20 million doses of COVID19 vaccine, of which 5 million will arrive in Cambodia at the end of March 2022.

President Xi announced that he will work with Cambodia to establish a home-grown vaccine factory in the kingdom in the near future.

On that occasion, president Xi also called for the establishment of flights between the two countries.

Since ASEAN and China have just upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partner in 2021, president Xi announced his support for Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN Summit 2022. In particular, support Cambodia's role as ASEAN chair concerning regional and global issues.

Xi underlined that ASEAN and China must contribute to maintaining peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region. In particular, expand cooperation between ASEAN and China.

President Xi also supported premier Hun Sen's visit to Myanmar in January and considered the visit as a stepping stone, which contributed to resolving Myanmar's crisis.

During the meeting, Samdech Hun Sen invited president Xi to visit Cambodia at an appropriate time, an invitation accepted by the Chinese president.

President Xi also invited premier Hun Sen to visit China at an appropriate time.
=FRESH NEWS