Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn here Friday, calling for closer bilateral ties and cooperation under regional frameworks.

Hailing the profound traditional friendship, Li said China supports Cambodia in choosing a development path in accordance with its national situation.

China stands ready to enhance the synergy of development strategies with Cambodia, promote cooperation in key areas and jointly build a China-Cambodia community with a shared future, said Li.

He said China is willing to intensify coordination and collaboration with Cambodia under the frameworks of China-ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong cooperation and forge ahead with negotiations for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, so as to safeguard a stable environment for the development in the region.

China backs Cambodia to host the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 2020, Li added.

Prak Sokhonn, who is paying an official visit to China from May 30 to June 1, said Cambodia appreciates China's long-term assistance and is willing to further strengthen high-level exchanges and mutual support on regional and international issues and promote the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future.