[Learning in Progress] At the invitation of Cambodia King Sihamoni, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Cambodia. Xinhua News Agency's "Learning in Progress" released an article to review the story of President Xi Jinping promoting China-Cambodia friendship.

China's friendship with Cambodia has a long history and is everlasting. President Xi Jinping once said that the two countries respect each other, trust each other, support each other, and achieve each other, setting an example of equal treatment and mutual benefit and win-win results in countries of all sizes. "China and Cambodia are both countries that value friendship, and the hard-core friendship between China and Cambodia is unbreakable."

President Xi Jinping quoted some proverbs in his important statements on China-Cambodia relations. Behind these proverbs are stories about the friendship between the two sides.

"Trust is like a tree"

On the eve of a state visit to Cambodia in October 2016, President Xi Jinping mentioned a Cambodian proverb in a signed article published in the Cambodian media: Trust is like a tree. In his article, he said that the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia has been baptized by years and the test of international changes and has always been deeply rooted and lush.

Cambodian Taihuang Sihanouk once said that the long-term and strong friendship between Cambodia and China is like a never-withering flower, always blooming under the clear sky.

Whether it is the big trees with deep roots and lush leaves, or the flowers that never wither, it shows that China-Cambodia's deep friendship has lasted forever and lasted forever.

This deep friendship is condensed in a heavy medal.

In November 2020, President Xi Jinping awarded the "Medal of Friendship" of the People's Republic of China to Queen Mother Monile at the Great Hall of the People. Queen Mother Monile is an important witness and promoter of China-Cambodia friendship. President Xi Jinping emphasized that this heavy "Medal of Friendship" represents the Chinese people's respect for Queen Mother Monile and the deep friendship for the Cambodian people, and also symbolizes the close friendly relationship between China and Cambodia.

On November 6, 2020, President Xi Jinping held a ceremony to award the "Medal of Friendship" of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Ling

This deep friendship is reflected in the leaders of the two countries "come and come and go as often as they visit relatives."

In September 2014, when President Xi Jinping met with King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monile at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, he said: "Beijing is your home, and you are welcome to go home often."

Over the years, President Xi Jinping has also met with Cambodian leader Hun Sen on many occasions. In December 2024, President Xi Jinping held talks with Cambodian People's Party Chairman and Senate Chairman Hun Sen, saying that China and Cambodia have a strong friendship and are fully in line with the common interests of the people of both countries.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that at present, the international situation is intermixed and global challenges are emerging one after another, testing the response and choices of all countries. Both China and Cambodia are committed to being the world's peace, development and progress forces. He said that China is willing to work with Cambodia to remain unchanged and unchanged, strengthen bottom-line thinking, strengthen cooperation and cooperation, and jointly respond to various risks.

For more than 60 years, China-Cambodia friendship has been passed down from generation to generation, with branches and leaves flourishing. Nowadays, under the leadership of the head of state diplomacy, China-Cambodia relations are increasingly vibrant.

"True love is seen in times of adversity"

On February 5, 2020, then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China. Hun Sen said that my temporary decision to come to China at this special time is to "show the strong support of the Cambodian government and people for the Chinese government and people in fighting the epidemic."

"True feelings are shown in times of adversity." When meeting with Hun Sen at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi Jinping said this with emotion.

In a signed article published in Cambodian media in 2016, President Xi Jinping said that Chinese people often say, "True love is revealed in times of adversity." A Cambodian proverb says, "Only in times of adversity can we identify who is the real friend and who is the fake friend." The Chinese people and the Cambodian people value friendship and keep their promises and treat each other frankly. China-Cambodia friendship has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of both countries.

In recent years, the cooperation between Cambodia and China has become increasingly deeper and more practical: Nearly two-thirds of Cambodia's energy comes from power projects invested by China; Tebenkmon China-Cambodia Friendship Hospital, Coasma China-Cambodia Friendship Hospital building, etc. have promoted the development of Cambodia's health and hygiene; the National Stadium built by China helped Cambodia successfully host the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in 2023...

Three years later, on February 10, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with the visiting then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. During the meeting, President Xi Jinping recalled Hun Sen's visit to China three years ago. "I am very happy to realize the 'three-year agreement' with you and jointly open a new era of building a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia on the occasion of the New Year."

On February 10, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jingwen

The "three-year agreement" of old friends witnessed the "hardcore" friendship between China and Cambodia and also injected new impetus into building a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that China is willing to work with Cambodia to "jointly build a new era of high-quality, high-level and high standards." This positioning marks a new height for the development of China-Cambodia relations and also conveys new expectations of the two peoples for China-Cambodia friendly cooperation.

In 2024, China-Cambodia bilateral trade volume reached US$15.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 23.8%. China has also been Cambodia's largest source of foreign investment and largest trading partner for many years. In the past decade, bilateral trade volume has increased by nearly four times.

"The road is far away and the horse's strength can be seen through time"

In November 2014, when President Xi Jinping met with then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Great Hall of the People, he said that the road is far away and the power of the horse can be seen, and people's hearts will be seen over time. China and Cambodia insist on being close friends and reliable partners, walking together through thick and thin, and working together. This traditional friendship is precious. We must unswervingly adhere to it and develop it, so that China-Cambodia relations will continue to develop and form a community of shared future that is watched over and helps each other.

Looking back, when Cambodia is in a state of chaos, China fully supports and helps Cambodia's national construction: to undertake the construction of Cambodia's first cement plant, the first thermal power plant, the largest hydropower station, and the assistance to build Cambodia's first four-lane national highway...

In the new historical period, the friendship between the two countries continues to continue and develop.

A Cambodian proverb says: "There is hope when there is a road." The Jingang Expressway is Cambodia's first expressway and is also a landmark project for the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" by China and Cambodia.

Jingang Expressway is Cambodia's first expressway and is a landmark project for China and Cambodia to jointly build the "Belt and Road". This is the Golden Harbor Expressway (drone photo) taken on September 25, 2024 in Kampung Spei Province, Cambodia. Xinhua News Agency (Photo provided by Cambodia Jingang Expressway Co., Ltd.)

In 2022, with the help of Chinese builders, it will cross fields and hills, connecting Cambodia's multiple special economic zones and many tourist attractions with great potential, and become the "best choice for travel" for many Cambodians. The fast track that Sihanouk seeks from the United States but fails to obtain was finally realized through cooperation with China more than 60 years later.

Cambodia, located in the Indochina Peninsula, was once an important stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road and one of the first countries to join the "Belt and Road" cooperation.

In May 2014, President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Hun Sen, "We will continue to provide assistance to Cambodia's economic and social development within our power" and "combined with the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to drive infrastructure connectivity."

This is National Highway 71C (drone photo) taken on July 14, 2024 in Tebenkmon Province, Cambodia. Posted by Xinhua News Agency (photo by Nidora)

Nowadays, the key projects of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" in Cambodia have achieved more and more fruitful results: the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has attracted more than 200 international enterprises and institutions to settle in, creating 32,000 jobs; Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has helped the rapid growth of tourism, and as of the end of last year, 17 routes have been opened to 8 countries; Cambodia's second expressway - the Jimba Expressway invested and constructed by Chinese enterprises has started construction; Cambodia's National Highway 71C, under construction, has just held a opening ceremony...

The well-connected roads and bridges across the natural barriers not only facilitate the lives of Cambodian people, but also inject strong impetus into their development.

In May 2024, Cambodian Prime Minister Honmanai announced that the Cambodian Kingdom government will name a road in Phnom Penh, the capital "Xi Jinping Avenue" to thank President Xi Jinping for his historic contribution to Cambodia's development.

At the road naming ceremony held on the same day, Honmanai pointed out that with the concern and promotion of President Xi Jinping and Cambodia-China relations have entered the best period in history.

Planning: Chu Xuejun

Coordinator: Che Yuming and Li Zhihui

Execution: Wang Zihui, Wanfang, Weng Weiqing

Chief writer: Pan Zidi Zhao Gang

Participated in the report: Wu Changwei

Production of Xinhuanet

Produced by Xinhua News Agency's No. 1 Studio