Wen meets with Philippine, Cambodian leaders
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-12 17:22

KUALA LUMPUR -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday met separately with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

In his meeting with Arroyo, Wen said that the strategic and cooperative relationship set up between China and the Philippines is dedicated to peace and development, which is a future-oriented, long term guideline of the Sino-Philippine relations.

Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries has achieved remarkable results, and mutual trust and cooperation have deepened further along with brisk exchanges between the youths of the two countries, Wen said.

The premier noted that China and the Philippines have kept a good coordination and cooperation over significant international and regional issues such as the UN reform and East-Asian cooperation.

The Chinese side is willing to work together with the Philippine side to continuously push forward the Sino-Philippine friendly cooperation, Wen said.

For her part, Arroyo said the relations between the Philippines and China are now in a golden period, with considerable achievements of cooperation registered in trade, investment, mining, tourism and other fields. The railway project undertaken in Luzon, the second largest island of the Philippines, by Chinese companies has achieved remarkable progress, and Chinese tourists to the Philippines have increased dramatically, she said. The Philippine leader expressed her hope to embark on cooperation in the energy sector.

The Chinese premier said the Chinese side will closely cooperate with the Philippine side to deliver a quality project of the railway construction in Luzon, for the Philippines, while strengthening cooperation in energy resources, infrastructure building and agriculture.

Arroyo reiterated that the Philippines will firmly stick to the one-China policy, of which Wen expressed his appreciation.

In his meeting with Hun Sen, Wen said that China and Cambodia have enjoyed a close relationship, and the friendship between China and Cambodia has experienced the test of time and the volatile international situation.

China highly appreciates the position of the Cambodian government on sticking to the one-China policy, steadfastly opposing "Taiwan independence" and firmly supporting the great cause of national reunification of the Chinese people, the Chinese premier said.

In order to deepen the Sino-Cambodian relations of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation, Wen expressed his hope that the two sides maintain exchanges of high-level visits, implement various cooperation projects, push for exploration of and cooperation in the fields of energy, mineral and natural gas resources.

Expressing the hope to increase contacts of the youths and strengthen provincial and city exchanges between the two countries, Wen said the Chinese side will continue to help Cambodia in training various specialized personnel.

Hun Sen said the political relations between Cambodia and China are very good, with abundance of achievements in trade and economic cooperation.

The Chinese side, for a considerably long time, has rendered precious aid to Cambodia in the construction of highway, irrigation works and other fields of infrastructure, he said.

Now, the Cambodian projects of infrastructure carried out by China are proceeding smoothly, the Cambodian leader said, expressing his hope that the two sides can strengthen cooperation in power generation, bridge construction and investment.

The two leaders also exchanged views on East-Asian cooperation and the relations between China and the Southeast Asian nations.

Wen arrived here earlier Sunday following his visit to France, Slovakia, Czech and Portugal.