PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has virtually met with the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Monday afternoon. The two Prime Ministers have agreed to boost trade between the two countries to $10 billion per year. They also agreed to enter into force a free trade agreement by January next year.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang has vowed to Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday that the People’s Republic of China will continue to support the Royal Government of Cambodia in boosting trade as well as its fight against Covid-19.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has expressed gratitude to his Chinese counterpart for not leaving Cambodia’s side. They discussed boosting bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries as well as regional and international cooperation.

In the bilateral framework, they discussed economic and trade issues, agricultural issues and people-to-people relations. They agreed to boost trade between the two countries to $10 billion per year and also agreed to enter into force a free trade agreement between Cambodia and China by January.

In the field of agriculture, the Chinese Prime Minister agreed to push for joint work between the two sides to negotiate a quota on rice imports to China and Cambodian agricultural products directly to China through the establishment of a joint mechanism.

Within the framework of regional and international cooperation, Prime Minister Li Keqiang informed Prime Minister Hun Sen that the Chinese side will attend the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting and provide support to Cambodia on the occasion of Cambodia's chairmanship of ASEAN next year.

In addition, the Chinese side will provide 550 scholarships to Cambodia for 2022-2023 for five years and is also considering to allow Cambodian students to return to study in China soon.

Prime Minister’s Assistant, Eang Sophallet has conveyed how grateful the Cambodian Prime Minister to converse with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Sophallet says that Prime Minister Hun Sen is very thankful to the Chinese government for its never-ending support and for always providing a warm welcome to His Majesty King and Queen during their royal visit to China.