Xi Jinping arrives in Cambodia on state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cambodia on Thursday on a state visit and will later leave for Bangladesh and India.

This is Xi's first trip to the Southeast Asian nation as the Chinese President. In 2009, he visited as Vice President, Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi is scheduled to meet Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, visit Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and hold talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The two countries will conclude a series of cooperation deals during Xi's visit to align their development strategies and boost their practical cooperation, according to Chinese officials.

In June, Xi and Sihamoni met in Beijing when the king paid a state visit to China, and pledged to press ahead with the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, which was established six years ago.

On the economic front, China is now Cambodia's largest trading partner and source of foreign investment, with bilateral collaboration expanding in such areas as trade, investment, connectivity, energy resources and infrastructure construction.

Two-way trade between China and Cambodia reached $4.43 billion in 2015, indicating an annual growth of 17.95 per cent, according to China's Commerce Ministry.

After Cambodia, Xi will travel to Bangladesh where he will hold talks with President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Xi will then attend the BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- summit, to be held in Goa, at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Here, the leaders will exchange in-depth views on BRICS cooperation and other global and regional issues.

Xi will return to Beijing on October 17.

--IANS

ksk/vt