On February 1, 2008, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in the Royal Palace.

Sihamoni said the friendship between the two countries goes back to ancient times and the Cambodian people hold profound friendly feelings towards the Chinese people. 50 years ago, Sihamoni's father, former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, forged the Cambodia-China friendship with Chinese leaders. The leaders of the two countries have jointly safeguarded and promoted continuous in-depth development of bilateral friendly cooperative relations. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Cambodia-China diplomatic ties, Sihamoni said, adding that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's current visit will further push forward comprehensive cooperative relations between the two countries.

Sihamoni said the Cambodian government and people greatly admire the enormous achievements China has made in national construction and appreciate the support and help that China has extended to Cambodia's economic and social development. He stressed the Cambodian royal family, government, parliament and people will continue to develop bilateral friendship and adhere to the One-China Policy, adding that such a position will never change.

Yang said the two peoples have maintained close exchanges and friendly relations since ancient times. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1958, the two countries have always respected, trusted and supported each other and conducted sincere cooperation with steadily growing good-neighborly friendship and deepening cooperation of mutual benefits. Yang said the Cambodian royal family have made unremitting efforts in and remarkable contributions to promoting and deepening China-Cambodia friendship and firmly support China's reunification, which the Chinese government and people highly appreciate.

Yang said this year is the 50th anniversary of the China-Cambodia diplomatic relations and "China-Cambodia Year of Friendship". He said both sides will hold a range of celebrations, which, he believed, will inject new vitality into bilateral ties. China is ready to work with Cambodia to continue pushing for friendly exchanges between the political parties, parliaments and government agencies of the two countries and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on economy, trade and humanities, so as to push forward the comprehensive friendly cooperative relations between the two countries.

Yang also briefed on the snow havoc in some parts of China and the joint efforts made by the Chinese government and people in fighting the disaster. Sihamoni expressed sincere sympathy and solicitude for the Chinese people in the affected areas in his own name and on behalf of the Cambodian people. He also said he believed that the Chinese government will lead the people in joint efforts to tide over the disaster.

Yang arrived in Phnom Penh on January 31 for a three-day official visit to Cambodia.