Having successfully winded up his official visit to New Zealand, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport by his special plane on April 7, 2006, kicking off his official visit to Cambodia.

Today's Phnom Penh is an ocean of China-Cambodia friendship. The national flags of China and Cambodia were flying at Phnom Penh International Airport. The banners bearing such slogans as "Long Live China-Cambodia Friendship, Solidarity and Cooperation", which were written in Chinese, Cambodian and English, were hung in the airport and main streets of the downtown. A few thousand of Cambodian people from different communities stood in rows, carrying fresh flowers and national flags of both countries, to welcome Premier Wen at the airport and the hotel where he stayed.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen led all of his six vice prime ministers to welcome Premier Wen at the airport. A Cambodian girl presented a wreath to Premier Wen to express their warm welcome to the honored Chinese guests. Prime Minister Hun Sen accompanied Premier Wen to step on the platform of parade. The military band played the national anthems of China and Cambodia. After inspecting the honor guard, Hun Sen accompanied Wen to meet and shake hands with the leading officials of the Cambodian government and diplomatic envoys attending the welcome ceremony. Wen waved to the public coming to welcome him.

Among those coming to welcome Premier Wen were Zhang Jinfeng, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, staffs of the Chinese embassy, representatives from Chinese-funded agencies, and representatives of overseas Chinese students and compatriots in Cambodia.

Wen delivered a written speech at the airport, in which he said, "China and Cambodia are friendly neighbors. The traditional friendship between the two peoples is ever lasting. In recent years, China-Cambodia friendship, which was established and cultivated by the Chinese leaders and His Majesty Sihanouk, the former king of Cambodia, was constantly consolidated and developed. The two countries carried out productive exchanges and cooperation in the field of politics, trade, economy and culture, and maintained sound coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. The development of China-Cambodia relationship not only accords with the fundamental interest of the two peoples but also benefits the peace, stability and development of this region."

Wen said that during his visit, he will meet His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, President Chea Sim of the Senate of Cambodia and President Heng Samrin of the National Assembly of Cambodia and hold talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen. Wen added, "Having the wish of consolidating friendship, strengthening understanding, deepening cooperation and promoting development, I will have an in-depth exchange of views with the Cambodian leaders on bilateral ties and issues of common concern. I would also like to take this chance to know more about the development of Cambodian economy and society."

Wen believed that under the thoughtful arrangements of the Cambodian side, his visit will achieve positive results and contribute to the stable and long-term development of China-Cambodia good-neighborly friendship and cooperation.

Cambodia was the last leg of Premier Wen's four-nation Asian-Pacific tour. Prior to his visit to Cambodia, he visited Australia, Fiji and New Zealand and attended the opening ceremony of the First Ministerial Meeting of China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum in Fiji.