Leaders express condolences over death of Sihanouk
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, October 16, 2012
Chinese President Hu Jintao Monday sent a message to Cambodian royals to express his condolences over the death of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk.
![Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L, front) visits Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (C, front) and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R, front) to express deep condolence and sincere sympathy for the death of Cambodian King-Father Norodom Sihanouk in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2012. [Ju Peng/Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20121016/000cf1bdd03f11e7015b24.jpg "Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L, front) visits Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (C, front) and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R, front) to express deep condolence and sincere sympathy for the death of Cambodian King-Father Norodom Sihanouk in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2012. [Ju Peng/Xinhua]") |
|
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L, front) visits Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (C, front) and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R, front) to express deep condolence and sincere sympathy for the death of Cambodian King-Father Norodom Sihanouk in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2012. [Ju Peng/Xinhua] |
In his message to reigning king Norodom Sihamoni and former queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, Hu also sent sincere condolences to the government and people of Cambodia.
Hu said the death of Sihanouk, who led the Cambodians to independence, national reconciliation and peaceful development, was a huge loss to the Cambodian people.
Sihanouk was a great friend of the Chinese people and had contributed much to the strengthening of the friendship between the people of the two countries, Hu said.
Hu also expressed his firm belief that, with the joint efforts of the two countries, the China-Cambodia relationship would continue its strong growth momentum, bringing benefits to both peoples.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited Cambodian royals to express their condolence and sympathy following the death of Sihanouk.
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin also sent condolence messages to senior Cambodian leaders over the former king's death.
Wen spoke highly of Sihanouk's life, noting that the Cambodian King Father has made unremitting efforts and remarkable contribution to Cambodia's national independence and peaceful development.
"His Majesty King Father Sihanouk had devoted himself to promoting the friendship between Chinese and Cambodian people, and he himself was a great friend with the Chinese people," according to Wen.
The premier said he personally had forged a deep friendship with Sihanouk and would always cherish memories of the Cambodian King Father.
He also expressed his sympathy to the Queen Mother Monineath and King Sihamoni, saying China will always welcome the Queen Mother as it has done in the past.
Queen Mother Monineath and King Sihamoni both expressed their heartfelt gratitude for Wen's visit. They noted that the Cambodian royal family felt deep appreciation for the relations China has enjoyed with Sihanouk in the past 40 years and would remain committed to carrying on the friendly policies to China formulated by the King Father Sihanouk himself.
On the same day, Wen also met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who travelled with King Sihamoni to bring home Sihanouk's body.
Wen said the King Father Sihanouk's death was a great loss to Cambodia and China also lost a great friend, noting that China and Cambodia have forged a profound traditional friendship that has stood the test of history.
China is willing to make joint efforts with the Cambodian side to promote a comprehensive and strategic partnership to score new progress in a bid to benefit the two peoples and maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity, Wen vowed.
Hun Sen, on behalf of the Cambodian government, thanked China for its long-term assistance and support for his country, noting Cambodia-China relations have been an exemplar for international relations.
During his visit to the Cambodian royals, Xi said, "We are greatly shocked and grieved to learn that His Majesty former King Sihanouk died this morning in Beijing."
Xi said Sihanouk, a great leader loved and esteemed by the Cambodian people, devoted his life to national independence and peaceful development of his country.
He spoke highly of Sihanouk as an old friend of the Chinese people, who forged a profound friendship with generations of Chinese leaders and made an indelible contribution to create and cultivate China-Cambodia relations. Xi said Sihanouk would live in the hearts of Chinese and Cambodian people forever.
Xi said he believed that the friendship between the two nations would continue and develop.
The former Cambodian queen Monineath thanked Xi for his visit. She said former King Sihanouk was a loyal, old and good friend of the Chinese people, who pursued a long-term friendly policy towards China and lived in the country for a long period.
She said China was a second home for Sihanouk and her as the Chinese took care of them during their stay.
Monineath said she believed the Cambodia-China friendship and cooperation would continue to prosper.
Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Li Zhanshu and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi accompanied Xi to visit the former queen.
Born on Oct. 31, 1922, Norodom Sihanouk reigned from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 till his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current king Sihamoni. He died of illness at the age of 90 Monday morning.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)