PHNOM PENH, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia-China relationship is "rock solid" as the two countries are celebrating the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, an advisor to the Cambodian prime minister said on Saturday.
Cambodia and China officially forged diplomatic ties in 1958 under their then leaderships -- Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chinese older generation leaders.
Pov Sok, an advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, said the ties between the two countries have withstood the test of regional and international vicissitudes and turbulence, and reached a new-high level of cooperation in February this year.
"Cambodia-China relationship is 'rock solid', unshakeable and stable," he told Xinhua. "The relationship between the two countries is based on mutual respect, trust, help and support, non-interference, peaceful co-existence, and win-win cooperation."
Pov Sok, who is also an author of a book entitled "Samdech Hun Sen: Cambodia's Elegant Hero Who Goes Against the Tide to Fight COVID-19", said the joint COVID-19 fight in the last three years was also a clear testament to the unbreakable ironclad friendship between the two Asian countries.
"Chinese COVID-19 vaccines had not only protected millions of Cambodian people's lives, but also reinvigorated Cambodia's economic recovery," he said.
The advisor said Cambodia-China close ties have provided huge benefits to the Southeast Asian country's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction.
He added that under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation framework, China has supported a number of mega-projects in Cambodia, such as national roads, river bridges, expressways, seaports, airports, hydropower plants, special economic zones, and a national stadium, among others.
"China remains Cambodia's largest investor and donor as well as key trading partner," he said. "Chinese investments in the country are the driving force of the economic, social, and educational boom as well as the creation of new jobs for local people."
Pov Sok said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade pact and the Cambodia-China free trade agreement, both of which entered into force in 2022, have also been injecting a vigorous impetus into trade and investment relations between the two countries.
"The Cambodia-China close relations have not only brought tangible benefits to both countries and peoples, but also contributed to promoting regional peace, security, stability and development," he said.
Regular high-level visits, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people interactions are essential to continue deepening the bilateral ties, he said, adding that Cambodia needs more tourists and investments from China, especially the investments in agriculture, industry, energy, technology, and human resources development.
"With high commitment and strong efforts made by the leaders and peoples of both countries, I strongly believe that the construction of a high-quality, high-level and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era will become a reality," he said. ■