Hun Sen greeted by Beijing leaders

BEIJING - Beijing and Phnom Penh on Monday inked more than a dozen deals in areas such as infrastructure and finance, celebrating the establishment of their comprehensive, strategic and cooperative partnership.

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Visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Chinese host Premier Wen Jiabao held 80-minute talks hours after he arrived, which culminated in the signing of 13 agreements that include exporting cassava from Cambodia.

Some of the agreements related to China's financial assistance in constructing a 300-kilometer-long national road off the national road 4 to the Chhumkiri district of Kampot province, and a canal.

The deals also include the construction of a second Chruoy Changvar bridge in Phnom Penh, and a bridge across the Tonle Bassac in the Takhmao district of Kandal province, as well as the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Preah Sihanouk province.

Hun Sen told the Xinhua News Agency that "in the past, we signed rice export agreements with China already, and we hope to sign the cassava exports to China during the visit and we are suggesting for corn export deals with China also.

"Our farmers will make use of rice and cassava exports because the Chinese market is very big," he said, adding that he is looking forward to more cooperation in the agricultural field.

Premier Wen told his guest that China and Cambodia will continue to strengthen friendly cooperation - which is in the interest of the people of the two nations and also in the interest of regional peace and stability.

He said he welcomes Cambodian efforts to further engage the Chinese market, while encouraging Chinese companies to expand investment and play an active role in Cambodia's economic zone construction.

Wen said the two countries need to step up efforts to reach a trade goal of $2.5 billion by 2015.

He promised that China would continue to offer assistance to support the economic development of Cambodia.

During Hun Sen's five-day visit, he is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Hu Jintao and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo on Wednesday.

He will also attend a reception hosted by former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, who is in Beijing for medical treatment.

In addition to Beijing, Hun Sen will also visit the port city of Tianjin and major cities in East China's Jiangsu province.

Just a month ago, the two countries inked deals worth $6.4 billion - ranging from infrastructure construction to energy exploration during top legislator Wu Bangguo's visit to Phnom Penh.