Cambodian and Chinese government officials have agreed to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The consensus was reached during the meeting between visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Office of the Council of Ministers Sok An in Phnom Penh on March 18.

Hui said China attaches importance to its relations with Cambodia and is willing to make joint efforts to carry forwards their traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and enrich their bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Sok An fully agreed with Hui's positive assessment of Sino-Cambodian relations, saying Cambodia is willing to work with China to strengthen their cooperation and exchanges in various fields in an effort to boost bilateral relations to a higher level.

During the meeting, the two sides held an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation in agriculture, tourism, telecommunications, natural disaster prevention and reduction, and reached broad consensus on the issues.

The two sides also agreed to work together to smoothly implement and promote their cooperation projects, and actively explore new areas of cooperation for their mutual benefit under a win-win cooperation model.

The same day, Hui Liangyu held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly. After the meeting, Hui, together with Sok An and Yim Chhay Ly, attended a signing ceremony of agriculture and communications cooperation agreements.

Hui arrived in Phnom Penh on March 17 for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Cambodian Deputy Prime Ministers Yim Chhay Ly and Sok An.

Cambodia is the first leg of Hui's five-nation tour which will also take him to Laos , Palestine , Israel and India./.