PRIME Minister Hun Sen left Cambodia on Thursday to attend the 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair, to be held in Chengdu, and officials from both sides hailed the strengthening ties between the two countries.

During the October 15-17 visit, the prime minister is to meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and receive a courtesy call from Liu Qibao, secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The trade fair, which runs throughout October, is a major annual event featuring economic and trade exchanges and promoting the Chinese government’s policy of developing the Western half of the country.

Qian Hai, second secretary and spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh, said Wednesday that this is the first time that the prime minister will be attending the trade fair, which will be attended by delegations from over 100 countries.