Senior diplomat meets with Cambodian, Lao representatives

China is ready to work closely with Cambodia and Laos in multilateral coordination and cooperation to maintain regional peace and stability and safeguard international fairness and justice, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks while meeting in Beijing with Khek Caimealy Sysoda, Cambodian ambassador to China and Khamphao Ernthavanh, Lao ambassador to China.

Noting China, Cambodia and Laos firmly render mutual support to each other on issues concerning the countries' core interests, Yang called on China and the two countries to strengthen strategic communication and consolidate political mutual trust.

China and the two countries should improve the quality and level of economic and trade cooperation and promote cooperation in anti-epidemic work, improving people's livelihoods, and people-to-people exchanges, Yang added.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations officially announced the establishment of a China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership when the two sides commemorated the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations in 2021.

As the year marks the first year of comprehensive strategic partnership, Yang stressed China supports Cambodia as rotating chair of ASEAN and would work with ASEAN countries to promote the joint building of a peaceful, tranquil, prosperous, beautiful and friendly home.

In response, the two ambassadors said Cambodia and Laos would actively promote the development of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly safeguard regional peace, stability and development.

Noting the two countries attach great importance to their relations with China, they said Cambodia and Laos firmly support China's positions on its core interests and major international issues.

The two countries look forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promoting joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to elevate their traditional relations with China to a new level, the two ambassadors said.

They also thanked China for providing valuable assistance to the two countries for the fight against the pandemic as well as economic and social development.