On February 4, 2008, as entrusted by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan paid a special visit to former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Monineath, who were here in Beijing.

Tang conveyed the cordial greetings and new year congratulations from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to former Cambodian King Sihanouk and his wife, and highly praised Sihanouk's historic contributions to promoting China-Cambodia friendship. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and is a Year of China-Cambodia Friendship. China was ready to work with Cambodia to grasp this opportunity to push the all-round cooperative partnership to a new level, and to pass on the traditional friendship from generation to generation, Tang said. Sihanouk asked Tang Jiaxuan to convey the sincere thanks and new year greetings to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, pledging that the Cambodian royal family, government and people would as always hold friendly policies to China and adhere to the one-China policy, and would make efforts to cement and promote the traditional good-neighborly friendship with China.

Sihanouk has shown concern for the recent snow havoc in southern China and made donations to China's humanitarian institutions for disasters relief, for which Tang expressed thanks. Sihanouk told Tang he believed that under the leadership of the CPC and Chinese government, the Chinese people would definitely win the fight against the heavy snow.