Cambodia's leader signs 13 deals on China visit

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen signed 13 agreements with Beijing covering areas such as energy and infrastructure as he began a five-day visit to China on Monday, AP reported. "China and Cambodia continue to strengthen friendly cooperation. This is in the interest of the people of the two nations and also in the interest of regional peace and stability," Premier Wen Jiabao told his Cambodian counterpart. The agreements include a hydroelectric deal with Sinohydro Corp, pacts on environmental technology, machinery equipment and agricultural exports, and the development of "Sihanouk port," named after the former Cambodian king who often travels to China for medical treatment. There were also a clutch of deals involving China Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of China. Hun Sen said before his departure that China would provide soft loans to Cambodia for projects including a new road and two bridges across the Mekong River. China has channelled millions of dollars in aid to Cambodia over the past decade.