Phnom Penh, 19 November 2024 – Samdech Rathsaphea Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly, received a courtesy call Tuesday from H.E. Mr. Xu Hongcai, Chairman of the Budget Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of China’s National People's Congress (NPC).

During the meeting, Samdech noted the timely nature of the visit as Cambodia is in the process of passing its annual budget. She expressed appreciation for exchanges of bilateral visits at all levels this year, noting that their ironclad friendship remained steadfast amid global uncertainties.

Samdech conveyed her best regards to H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and H.E. Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for their warm welcome and hospitality during her visit to China in September. She stressed that although China is a major power and Cambodia a small nation, their relationship is based on mutual trust, respect and understanding for the benefit of the two peoples.

Commission Chairman Xu expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality received in Cambodia, and said his visit aimed to facilitate meetings with expert commissions to strengthen ties. He recalled the efforts of older and younger generations of Chinese and Cambodian leaders to nurture relations and build a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future. He stressed the importance of synergies between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy as well as people-to-people ties. He also recalled that NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao and Samdech Sudary had signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between legislatures of the two countries.

Samdech highlighted China’s significant support to poverty reduction in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas, and the importance of cooperation with China to meet Cambodia's ambitious goals of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030 and achieving high-income status by 2050. She recalled NPC Standing Committee Chairman’s words – “the success of China is the success of Cambodia” –  as the best way to strengthen Cambodia.

Samdech conveyed her regards to all Chinese friends, wishing them health, prosperity, and success in realizing China's goals. She expressed hope for China's strength to assist the Global South and for strong bilateral cooperation to benefit both countries and beyond.

The National Assembly President met earlier Tuesday with H.E. Mr. Huang Li, Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress in southern China.