PHNOM PENH, June 1 (Xinhua) -- China has done its best to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 disease, Cambodian Princess Norodom Arunrasmy has said in an interview with Xinhua.
Arunrasmy, who is a privy councilor for the Supreme Privy Council to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, said China's efforts to combat the virus were praiseworthy and that China had responded to the outbreak timely with effective measures.
"The optimum use of resources for the optimum result during such an urgent situation was the best choice the Chinese authority has made," she said.
The princess, who has recently visited Beijing, said what impressed her in particular was that Chinese people are very resilient after heavy losses due to the pandemic.
"I also admire their efforts to support and cooperate individually and collectively with the authorities' advice," Arunrasmy said. "Without those individual disciplines and consciousness from the people, China would not have seen such a remarkable success during this stressful time in the whole China."
Sharing her view on China's economy and its role in helping rebuild economies in other countries in a post-COVID-19 era, the princess said China will remain an important place for countries to do business with, due to its infrastructures and market size.
"I am optimistic in China's huge capacity for resilience," she said. "The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plan may restart progressively and remains well received in its partner countries."
JOINT COVID-19 FIGHT ADDS NEW IMPETUS TO CAMBODIA-CHINA TIES
Arunrasmy said since the COVID-19 outbreak, Cambodia and China have been supporting each other and cooperating closely to battle with this invisible enemy, and this mutual help has elevated the bilateral ties to new heights.
"The bond of friendship between our two countries has moved closer after we have shared difficult circumstances and experiences together for a long time," the princess said.
She added that the two countries have become "a friend in need is a friend indeed" in all crucial circumstances, in particular, in the time that the world is being ravaged by the pandemic.
Speaking about the cooperation between the two countries in a post-COVID-19 era, the princess said Cambodia and China are effective partners and both countries need to continue to further promote and strengthen the existing cooperation in all spheres.
She said Cambodia highly values the BRI since it is a new source of economic growth through infrastructure development, industrialization, trade and investment expansion, and tourism growth.
"Personally, I believe, in the economic aspect, the BRI reflects an important aspect of friendship and partnership between the two countries," she said. "It defines the long-term strategic partnership policy that China and Cambodia wish to design."
WORLD NEEDS UNITY, SOLIDARITY IN WAKE OF GLOBAL PANDEMIC
Arunrasmy said it was sad to see the rise in anti-globalization sentiments and unilateralism in the wake of global health crisis brought by the COVID-19.
"We live in a globalized world that provides peace and prosperity," she said. "It is sad to see populism, nationalism and extremism on the rise and to see globalization and international involvement in widespread rejection."
Unilateralism meant withdrawal from international law, cooperation, trust, peacekeeping and building, the princess said, adding that it will increase existing distrust and tensions among countries.
Humanity needs a world where the rule of law replaces the rule of the jungle, so that the strong and the weak can cooperate effectively with mutual respect, she said.
The princess added that Cambodia always works hand-in-hand with China to promote multilateralism. Enditem
