President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY)

President Xi Jinping assured visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday that no matter how the international and regional situations evolve, China will always be Cambodia's most reliable friend and its firmest supporter.

While hailing the countries' "ironclad" friendship, high-level mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said China is willing to work together with Cambodia to jointly uphold international fairness and justice and protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. Hun Manet, who became Cambodia's prime minister last month, chose Beijing as the destination of his first official trip abroad, which, observers said, demonstrates his readiness to further strengthen the two countries' ties with the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future. Under former prime minister Hun Sen's leadership, bilateral ties maintained a good development momentum.

Over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always maintained a high level of mutual trust, treated each other as equals, and pursued mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said to the new Cambodian prime minister.

The two countries have always firmly supported each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, which is the core essence of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, he added.

Xi emphasized that China firmly supports Cambodia in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions, and is willing to maintain regular strategic communication with Cambodia to deepen the exchange of governance experience.

He called for implementing the new action plan for building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future, jointly building the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor", and promoting the early implementation of key cooperation projects.

China is willing to conduct law enforcement and security cooperation with Cambodia on a regular basis and continue to crack down on cross-border crimes, such as online gambling and telecommunications fraud, Xi added.

Hun Manet said that by choosing China as his first official foreign visit, he hopes to further enhance and promote the longstanding friendship between Cambodia and China.

Cambodia is grateful for China's long-term support and assistance in its economic and social development, and is willing to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

He added that Cambodia adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests.

Premier Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony for the Cambodian prime minister on Friday. They witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in the fields of industry, agriculture, infrastructure, the digital economy, green development and others.

During their talks, Li said that the two countries have always stood together through thick and thin, setting an example of nations treating each other as equals and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation.

China is willing to further enhance the alignment of development strategies with Cambodia, fully leverage the role of the intergovernmental coordination committee, and advance the implementation of the China-Cambodia "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework with the six priority areas of political cooperation, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he said.

Hun Manet said that the new government of Cambodia is willing to join hands with China to further maintain and develop the traditional friendship between the two countries.