China, Cambodia set up 'fast track', 'green corridor'

China and Cambodia announced on Tuesday the establishment of a "fast track" for the movement of people and a "green corridor" for the flow of goods between the two countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was made at the fifth meeting of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, which was co-chaired by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong via videoconferencing.

Wang said that China and Cambodia have supported and assisted each other since the novel coronavirus outbreak, thus deepening and consolidating their traditional friendship, according to a press release after the meeting.

China stands ready to work with Cambodia to fight against COVID-19, as well as accelerating cooperation in all areas to achieve progress in anti-epidemic efforts and economic and social development in both countries, he said.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Wang said positive momentum for development in all aspects, as well as broad prospects, have been witnessed in bilateral cooperation.

A large number of key projects for jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative have been launched and the two sides have successfully carried out the Year of Law Enforcement Cooperation, which effectively cracked down on cross-border criminal activities, such as illegal online gambling, according to Wang.

The State Councilor noted that China will continue to strengthen communication and coordination with Cambodia under regional frameworks, such as East Asia Cooperation and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation.

China supports holding a videoconference meeting among foreign ministers from ASEAN countries, China, the Republic of Korea and Japan on fighting COVID-19, and efforts to push forward the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement within this year, Wang said.

China will work with Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and strive for an early result in the negotiation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, he added.

Hor Nam Hong, for his part, said his country kept in mind the long-term support and assistance from China and will further promote and deepen Cambodia-China cooperation.

He also expressed Cambodia's support for China's decision on national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The two sides also called for solidarity from all parties to deal with the challenge of COVID-19 and expressed opposition to any politicization or stigmatization using the epidemic as an excuse.

Those at the meeting decided to upgrade the bilateral intergovernmental coordination committee as the major mechanism responsible for the implementation of building a shared future for China and Cambodia. Last year, the two countries signed the action plan for building a shared future.