King Discusses China Relations

King Norodom Sihanouk says he is honored to have built a friendly relationship between Cambodia and China 40 years ago, when he lay the foundation for the strong cooperation that currently exists between the two countries, according to an interview he gave recently to Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese government news service.

“In the year of 1955, I had the honor of making acquaintance with the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and the late Marshal Chen Yi at the Asian-African Summit Conference in Bandung, Indonesia,” the King told Xinhua. “Since then, the great friendship and brotherly unity between the two nations and the two peoples have become increasingly better and better.”

The King said Chinese Presi­dent Jiang Zemin’s visit to Cam­bodia, which ended Tues­day, “is of great historical significance” and “will further strengthen the great long-standing friendship and brotherly unity.”

Beijing has been a second home to the King since his years in exile or abroad beginning in 1970, when he was overthrown in a coup d’etat. Now he regularly travels to China for medical check-ups.

The King has met many of China’s leaders, including revolutionary leader Mao Tse-tung and his successor Deng Xiaoping.

“The late Deng Xiaoping was a great statesman who had intelligence and wisdom, and rich political experiences,” the King said. “What he had done is not only beneficial to the Chinese people, but also to the international community and the world.”

The King was at Pochentong Airport on Monday to greet Jiang and accompanied him to Siem Reap on Tuesday, when they took a tour of the temples before Jiang departed.

 

 

 

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