On March 31, 2012, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Chea Sim and Heng Samrin, presidents of the Cambodian Senate and National Assembly respectively in Phnom Penh.

During his meeting with Chea Sim, Hu said the Senate President, as an old friend of Chinese people, has long been committed to the China-Cambodia friendship, which China appreciates. He said that China treasured its traditional friendship with Cambodia, and would always take a strategic approach to strengthening all-round cooperation with the neighboring country.

The Chinese president told Chea Sim, as the ruling parties of both nations faced the great tasks of maintaining national stability, economic development and improving people's livelihoods, they needed to enhance contacts, exchange experience in governing the state and deepen cooperation. China would, as always, support Cambodia in seeking a development path that suited its national conditions and offer assistance within China's capacity, Hu said.

Chea Sim said President Hu's visit embodied and deepened the traditional friendship between the two countries. He expressed his thanks for China's long-term support of Cambodia's economic and social development and lauded China's constructive role in promoting regional and world peace, stability and development. Noting that Cambodia was accelerating development, Chea Sim expressed the wish to strengthen cooperation with China. He said the Cambodian Senate would continue to work for the reinforcement and expansion of the Cambodia-China friendship.

In his meeting with Heng Samrin, Hu said the China-Cambodia friendship was the common wealth of both peoples and to carry on their traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation was their common aspiration. He said his visit was aimed at advancing the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. Hu said the two sides had decided to make 2013, the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, China-Cambodia friendly year in a bid to boost friendly exchanges and practical cooperation. He also voiced hope the legislative bodies of both countries would strengthen communication and draw on each other's experience in a bid to make fresh contributions to building their countries and promoting common development.

Heng Samrin said Hu's visit was sure to further consolidate the Cambodia-China friendship and advance their unity and cooperation. China was Cambodia's good neighbor, friend and partner, he said. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China has maintained national stability and development and made ​​remarkable achievements in the modernization drive. The Cambodian people admire and congratulate on these achievements and are looking forward to the traditional friendship being carried forward. The Cambodian National Assembly stood ready to boost exchanges with China's National People's Congress to further promote the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, he said.

On the same day, President Hu met with the staff of the Chinese embassy in Cambodia, and representatives from Chinese-funded institutions, overseas Chinese and Chinese students studying there.

Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo attended the above activities.