On November 2, 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh.

Zhu said that the people of China and Cambodia have had friendly exchanges since ancient times, and that the existing Sino-Cambodian friendship has been personally forged and carefully nurtured by the Chinese leaders of three generations and Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk. In recent years, China-Cambodia friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation has been growing and brought about real benefits to the people of the two countries. Sino-Cambodian ties have entered a period of stable, sound and overall development. His current visit to Cambodia aims to increase friendship, expand common grounds and deepen cooperation. China is always ready to work with Cambodia to further promote the development of Sino-Cambodian relations under the guidance of the Joint Declaration issued when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Cambodia in 2000.

In order to maintain a closer and more stable Sino-Cambodian relationship, Zhu made the following proposals:

First, keep high-level contacts and exchange of visits. The Chinese side welcomes Cambodian leaders to China and is willing to enhance bilateral cooperation with Cambodia in the political, economic and trade, cultural, educational, tourism and other fields.

Second, strengthen the mutually-beneficial cooperation in the fields of economy and trade. Economic and trade cooperation between China and Cambodia has made considerable progress over the past 10 years and that there is a great potential to tap in this field. China, which has always shown care for the economic construction in Cambodia, will continue to provide assistance to Cambodia within its capacity. China is sincere in providing assistance and will attach no political conditions. Zhu announced that the Chinese government has decided to write off all Cambodian debts to China that have matured, which is part of China's plans to cut or write off debts owed to China by Asian countries.

Third, identify key areas of cooperation between the two countries. In order to fully implement the Joint Declaration, he proposed that China and Cambodia focus their cooperation in agriculture, human resources and infrastructure. He also expressed the hope that the agricultural departments of the two countries will deepen cooperation. The Chinese side is ready to assist Cambodia in human resources development. The Chinese side has decided to provide loans to Cambodia in installment to help with a highway program in Cambodia.

Fourth, strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs. China will continue to coordinate its stance with Cambodia on international, regional and multilateral occasions such as the United Nations, regional cooperation in East Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional forum, so as to safeguard their common interests. He expressed support for Cambodia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Euro meeting.

Zhu spoke positively of the domestic situation in Cambodia. With the maintenance of a political and social stability, Cambodia has enjoyed sustained economic development and improvement of people's life. The Cambodian government has pursued a policy of independence. The two major ruling parties work in unity and focused efforts on developing the economy, which accords with the fundamental interests of the Cambodian people. China firmly supports the Cambodian government to stick to the road of development with Cambodian characteristics. Zhu also said that as a host country, Cambodia has done a good job in making preparations for a series of meetings of leaders of East Asian nations, such as the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and that of ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea (10+3). He wished the meetings a great success.

Hun Sen said that the friendship between Cambodia and China dates back to a long time ago. Cambodia-China friendship forged and nurtured by King Norodom Sihanouk and the three generations of Chinese leaders has produced rich fruits. Now Cambodia-China relations have entered into a period of all-round and rapid development. We attach great importance to and appreciate Zhu's official visit to Cambodia amid his busy schedule. The visit has great significance in further promoting the development of Cambodia-China friendly relations in the new century.

Hun Sen fully agreed with Zhu's four-point proposal. He thanked the Chinese government and people for all kinds of assistance and support to Cambodia over the past decades. He also thanked the Chinese government for its meticulous care of King Norodom Sihanouk's health in the past years. Hun Sen said that the Chinese government announces that it will write off Cambodia's debts to China that have matured, which fully shows the sincere friendship of the Chinese people to the Cambodian people and is very moving. The Cambodian side fully agreed to identify the three key areas of Cambodia-China cooperation. At the same time, Cambodia also hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in bridge, railway, power and other projects, and hopes that the Chinese government would encourage more citizens to travel to Cambodia as tourists.

Hun Sen emphasized that Cambodia has always attached importance to China's important and active role in international and regional affairs. He reiterated, on behalf of the Cambodian government, Cambodia will continue to adhere to the One China policy.

After the talks, the two sides signed two agreements on economic and technological cooperation and exchanged two documents on material assistance and the construction of a Cambodian highway by the Chinese government.