China, Cambodia issue strategic partnership statement

China and Cambodia issued a joint Statement here on Monday denoting the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries. The joint statement, issued at the end of the Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Cambodia, acknowledges the two countries agreement to cooperate economically and technically, deepening bilateral military cooperation, maintaining contacts between the ministries of defense and military forces, and cooperating in the fields of military training, personnel training, building military academies and schools, and logistical support, according to state news agency (Xinhua). China and Cambodia agreed as well on an annual bilateral trade that will double from the current 2.5 billion US dollars to 5 billion dollars by 2017. The statement marks a deeper cooperation in law enforcement and security, and enhance high-level visits and working-level exchanges between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries. It declares also China's readiness to continue to provide economic assistance within its capacity to Cambodia for its national development and support Cambodia's infrastructure development, such as transportation, energy, telecommunications and water conservation. The statement as well implies China's support to competent and reputable Chinese enterprises in their efforts to enhance cooperation with the Cambodian side in such key fields as infrastructure, agriculture, industry, tourism and the establishment of economic and trade cooperation zones. Both countries agree on further enhance coordination and cooperation at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and Asia-Europe Meeting, and work together to safeguard the interests of all developing countries. They will also boost their cooperation under the framework of regional cooperation mechanisms such as (ASEAN plus)- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations- China, Japan and South Korea, East Asia Summit and Great Mekong Sub-regional Economic Cooperation. China and Cambodia will deepen ASEAN-China Cooperation in political, security, economic, connectivity, social and cultural fields as well as in international and regional affairs, and elevating the ASEAN-China strategic partnership to a new horizon. The statement acknowledges the support of China and Cambodia for the establishment of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone and expressed readiness of both sides to work together for the early entry into force of the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty. The two countries agree that China and ASEAN countries, namely Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Darussalam Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia, will be committed the purpose and spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and its implementation.