Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun dismissed unfounded claims regarding Cambodia as baseless rumors and malicious attacks, saying that the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia will not be disrupted by any interference.
A few self-media outlets have issued unfounded allegations that Cambodian leaders are picking sides between Beijing and Washington and that major cooperative projects between China and Cambodia are being hindered.
Speaking at a daily news briefing on Thursday, Guo said that "China will not allow anyone to maliciously slander the friendship between the two nations and any act of spreading rumors will bear legal responsibilities and consequences".
Calling China and Cambodia ironclad friends who stand together through thick and thin, Guo said their traditional friendship, forged by elder generations of leaders from both countries, has withstood the test of time.
"It aligns with the fundamental interests of both nations and their peoples, possesses strong vitality, and has broad prospects for development. No force can shake or undermine this friendship," he said.
He emphasized that the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future has brought tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.
China has been Cambodia's largest source of foreign investment and its largest trading partner for many consecutive years. Over the past decade, bilateral trade volume has increased nearly fourfold.
Both China and Cambodia regard each other as the most trustworthy friends and reliable partners, firmly supporting each other's core interests, which is the most distinctive feature of bilateral ties and foundation of their enduring friendship, Guo said.
The spokesman also noted that Cambodian leaders have repeatedly emphasized that China is the country's most trustworthy friend, and maintaining friendly relations with China is a firm political consensus among the Cambodian government, political parties, and its people.
China and Cambodia are leading the high-quality development of bilateral ties with high-level mutual trust and promoting the implementation of key cooperative projects to better benefit both peoples, Guo said, adding bilateral cooperation will inject greater stability and certainty in addressing challenges of the region and beyond.
