Agriculture minister Dith Tina and Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian pose for photos in front of the Millingtonia tree at the China-Cambodia Friendship Garden in Phnom Penh on August 6. FN
To mark the 65th anniversary of Cambodia-China diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Hun Sen has presented a "Pkha Angkea Bos" tree to Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian. The tree will be planted in the China-Cambodia Friendship Garden.
The jasmine tree, known by its scientific name Millingtonia hortensis, was presented to Wang on August 6 by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina, on behalf of the outgoing prime minister. Accompanying the tree was a message from Hun Sen.
“As we celebrate the 'China-Cambodia Friendship Year' and mark the 65th Anniversary of our diplomatic relations, I am delighted to extend my warmest greetings and present a special gift for the China-Cambodia Friendship Garden,” read the message.
"Pkha Angkea Bos tree is a magnificent long-life tree with heights ranging from 18 to 25 metres, flourishing with white blossoms and a captivating fragrance, reflecting the long-standing relationship that turned both countries into Comprehensive Strategic Partners, and far beyond into Iron Clad Friends.
"I strongly believe that 'Pkha Angkea Bos' tree will deeply root in the garden and will become another symbol of our traditional friendship that has been carefully nurtured and cherished from generation to generation.
"As the tree magnifies, its constancy will remind the unchanged Cambodian policy toward China. Our sincere friendship and constant policy, which deeply rooted through intergenerational time, will blossom and yield greatness and prestige, spreading like the fragrance of Angkea Bos flowers, to the people of both counties as they live in peace, stability, and prosperity," read the message.
Kin Phea, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, described the gift as being “as beautiful as a flower blooming in the spring”.
“This beautiful offering shows the long-standing relationship between the two nations, and the fruit that is gradually being borne through the previous generations of leaders. This relationship must be nurtured in the future, so it will lead to further successful cooperation,” he said.
He added that he expected relations between Cambodia and China to deepen to a greater extent when Hun Manet takes office as prime minister.
“New cooperative programmes will be added, while existing ones will become stronger,” he said.
