Dear Phnom Penh Post readers,

On the auspicious occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to our Chinese compatriots studying, working and living in Cambodia, and to express my sincere gratitude to our Cambodian friends from all walks of life who are committed to promoting China-Cambodia friendship.

In the past 70 years, China has walked out of poverty and towards prosperity and strength. Developing from poverty into the second-largest economy in the world, China’s economy has not only grown in quantity but also optimised its structure and promoted its quality.

China’s science and technology has made rapid progress, and the innovation-driven development strategy is taking effect, with remarkable achievements in manned space flight, deep-sea exploration, supercomputers, big data, and much more.

The peoples’ livelihood has been greatly improved, with more than 700 million lifted out of poverty since the reform and opening-up was initiated over 40 years ago. And now, as a nation, we have the world’s largest middle-income group of over 400 million people.

With education, medical services and other projects being implemented for better livelihood, the people’s aspirations for a better life are being gradually realised. China has also become a major engine for world economic growth with a contribution rate of over 30 per cent for several consecutive years.

In the past 70 years, China has injected new impetus into world peace and development and consolidated its image as a responsible power. China has always upheld the independent foreign policy of promoting the peace and development of mankind and pushing for the establishment of a just and equitable international order responsibly and pragmatically.

All of these are reflected in such cases as initiating the five principles of peaceful coexistence jointly with neighbouring countries, helping resolve international and regional hotspot issues like the Korean Peninsula issue, Afghanistan issue and Iran nuclear issue.

We are also promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and a community of shared future for all of mankind. Being more widely acknowledged and appreciated, China’s initiatives and formulas have become an integral part of the international governance system.

In the past 70 years, China-Cambodia friendship has withstood the test of time and international turbulence to be more solid and vigorous with remarkable achievements. The two countries hold highly consistent positions in opposing foreign interference and pursuing a path of development according to the national conditions.

We share the same goals of developing the economy, improving the people’s livelihood and the common interests of safeguarding regional peace and stability and building a new model of international relations.

China highly appreciates the Royal Government of Cambodia in unswervingly upholding the One China principle.

We would like to work with the Cambodian side to implement the significant consensus achieved by our national leaders, build up the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Rectangular Strategy to jointly build the community of shared future with strategic significance, and bring more tangible interests to the two countries and our peoples.

The Phnom Penh Post is a mainstream English language newspaper in Cambodia with many readers. I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to extend my gratitude to dear readers who are concerned about and supportive of China and China-Cambodia relations.

I am expecting The Phnom Penh Post to play a bigger role in deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and Cambodia.