China's top regislator start visit Cambodia

Wu Bangguo (R front), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, arrives in Phnom Penh for an official visit to Cambodia. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived here on Wednesday, kicking off his 4-day official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Wu's arrival is the first of its kind in nearly 10 years for a Chinese top legislator to visit the country.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People' s Congress, China's top legislature, is scheduled to hold talks with King Norodom Sihamoni, National Assembly President Heng Samrim, Senate President Chea Sim and Prime Minister Hun Sen, and they will exchange views on issues of further developing the all- round cooperative partnership between the two countries and promoting bilateral cooperation.

The two countries are expected to sign a series of cooperation agreements on economic cooperation and trade during Wu's stay here. Wu's visit is aimed at "enhancing mutual trust, consolidating friendship, deepening cooperation" between the two countries, China's Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue told Xinhua prior to Wu's arrival.

On economic cooperation, Ambassador Pan said along with the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the China-Cambodian economic and trade cooperation enjoys new and bigger opportunities. Trade volume between the two countries for the first half of this year has topped 627 million U.S. dollars, up 37 percent from the same period last year.

Cambodia is the first stop of Wu's three-nation Southeast Asia tour, which will also bring him to Indonesia and Thailand.

Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, arrives in Phnom Penh for an official visit to Cambodia. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Posted in: news