Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang witnessed the signing of 12 key agreements on February 10, during the former’s state visit to China.

Among these was an agreement between foreign ministries to strengthen cooperation in building a new-era Cambodia-China community of common destiny, signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, according to a statement posted on Hun Sen’s official Facebook page.

Secondly, an agreement on the implementation of the second phase of a development project for the University of Kratie, within the framework of a grant from Beijing, was inked by Sokhonn and Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao, the statement said.

Thirdly, an agreement on an action plan on trade and economic cooperation for 2023-2024 was endorsed by Cambodian Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak and Wang, his Chinese counterpart.

Fourthly, a protocol on quarantine and sanitary requirements for the export of live aquatic animals from Cambodia and China was penned by Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina and General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) head Yu Jianhua.

Fifthly, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Cambodian Ministry of Information and China Media Group (CMG) was inked by minister Khieu Kanharith and CMG president Shen Haixiong.

Sixthly, a cooperative agreement between the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) and Xinhua News Agency was endorsed by Kanharith and Xinhua president Fu Hua.

Seventhly, a joint statement on the Asian Cooperation Initiative for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage was signed by foreign ministry secretary of state Tuot Panha and Chinese Vice Minister for Culture and Tourism Li Qun, who doubles as head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

Eighthly, an MoU on the Cambodia-China Development Cooperation Plan 2023-2025 was penned by Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance secretary of state Ros Seilava and China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) chairman Luo Zhaohui.

Ninthly, an exchange of letters on the study of achievements in the second phase of a poverty reduction cooperation project in Cambodia was also endorsed by Seilava and Luo.

Tenthly, a letter of acceptance for a $4.4 million grant for an unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance project in the Kingdom was inked by Seilava and Wang, the Chinese commerce minister.

Eleventhly, a framework agreement for the Dang Kambit reservoir development project in Kampong Thom province was penned by Seilava and Luo, the CIDCA chairman.

And finally, a concessional loan agreement for the same Dang Kambit project was penned by Seilava and Export-Import Bank of China president Wu Fulin.

Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang push virtual buttons to ceremoniously launch the 'China-Cambodia Friendship Year', marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations – established on July 19, 1958.