Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng (front, L) and Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu (front, R), pose for a group photo in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 30, 2008. Sar Kheng and Meng Jianzhu held talks in Phnom on Sunday. Meng, who was invited by Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, arrived in Cambodia on Friday for an official visit. [Xia Lin/Xinhua]

Chinese State Councilor Meng Jianzhu met in Phnom Penh on Sunday respectively with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on bilateral ties and cooperation.

The Cambodian-Chinese relations have a long history, and enjoyed overall and deep development in recent years and now stay in its best period, said Hun Sen.

The fast economic development of China is an encouragement not only for the Chinese people, but for the peoples in the regional countries, he said.

Cambodia appreciated the long-term support and help that China has given for the economic and social development of Cambodia and the kingdom is willing to join hands with China to push forward the friendly and cooperative bilateral ties in all sectors for new development, the premier added.

Meng, who is also Chinese Minister of Public Security, said that the bilateral relations have enjoyed overall and deep development since the two countries established diplomatic ties 50 years ago.

Both sides have enhanced political trust, the economic and trade cooperation have created much fruits, the exchange has become ever more active in all fields and the friendly ties have brought concrete benefits to both peoples, he said.

China appreciated Cambodia's adherence to the "One-China policy", firm stance against Taiwan independence and strong support for the peaceful unification of China, he said.

Meanwhile, the justice cooperation between the two countries has made much achievement and enriched the contents of the bilateral overall cooperative partnership, he said.

The justice cooperation between China and Cambodia is expected to further develop in width and depth, thus bringing more benefits to both peoples, he added.

Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng (4th, L) and Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, Meng Jianzhu (6th, L), witness both sides' deputies signing the memorandum of cooperation between the Chinese Ministry of Public Security and Cambodian Interior Ministry in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 30, 2008. Sar Kheng and Meng Jianzhu held talks?in Phnom?on Sunday. Meng, who was invited by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, arrived in Cambodia on Friday for an official visit. [Xia LinXinhua]?

During the meeting with Sar Kheng, Meng said that the traditional friendly ties between China and Cambodia achieved consistent development and the cooperative range has kept on widening.

There were also new development of the cooperation between the justice departments of both countries, and a convenient and highly effective model has been set to fight against the crimes related with the two sides, he said.

China expected to further strengthen its cooperation with Cambodia in the fields of countering drug smuggling, anti-terrorism, information exchange, jointly cracking cases, finding and detaining refugees and conducting professional training, he said.

So that we can maintain the social order and normal visits of both peoples, co-establish a safe and stable environment for the region and contribute to the healthy and stable development of the overall cooperative partnership between China and Cambodia, he added.

Sar Kheng highly appreciated the Cambodian-Chinese friendship and the positive development of the justice cooperation between the two sides.

Cambodia is willing to join hands with China in fighting against drug-related crimes, illegal immigration, child sale and other trans-national crimes, he said, adding that his country would like to push the bilateral justice cooperation up to a new level.

After the meeting, the deputies from both sides signed the memorandum of cooperation between Chinese Ministry of Public Security and Cambodian Interior Ministry and the agreement for China to donate police equipment and materials for Cambodia.

Meng and the 19-member delegation arrived in the kingdom on Friday for an official visit at the invitation of Sar Kheng. He will leave for Vietnam on Monday for the second and final leg of his regional tour.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2008)