On April 8, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in the Cambodian Royal Palace, Phnom Penh.

Wen indicated that the friendship between both sides has become firmer as time goes by and is deeply rooted in the hearts of people. Both sides have supplied each other's needs and offered mutual assistance during a long period of exchange. The sound situation in bilateral relations today is inseparable from remarkable contributions of the Cambodian royal family. Both countries are close neighbors and regard each other as brothers. China is delighted with political stability, national unity and economic growth of Cambodia under the leadership of King Sihamoni and sincerely hopes that it will score greater achievements in national development.

Wen noted that he and Prime Minister Hun Sen conducted fruitful talks on the same day. They decided to establish bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership, which marks that bilateral friendship and friendly cooperation have entered a new stage. They also indicated that both sides should not only continue keeping closer bilateral political relations and economic and trade cooperation, but also expand cultural and educational exchanges so that bilateral relations will witness more lasting and in-depth development.

Wen emphasized that the Chinese government attaches great importance to relations with Cambodia, cherishes the special friendship with the Cambodian royal family and would like to work with Cambodia to consolidate traditional friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and continuously advance bilateral cooperative relations of good-neighborly friendship.

On behalf of Cambodian people, Sihamoni extended warm welcome for Premier Wen's visit. He said that Cambodian people hold profound friendship towards China and always remember precious support and assistance from China and bilateral friendship is unbreakable. Premier Wen and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen conducted fruitful talks on the same day and both sides reached consensus on establishing and developing bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership, which marks a new milestone in history of bilateral relations and will surely strongly push for bilateral friendly cooperation in all areas. Sihamoni was delighted with these achievements and wished bilateral relations greater progress. The Cambodian royal family will as always make contributions to promoting generations of friendship between both sides.