On April 22, 2016, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Phnom Penh with Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong of Cambodia.

Wang Yi expressed that Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong was just relieved of his duties as Foreign Minister. For a long time, you have been committed to China-Cambodia friendship, and conducting close cooperation with China in international and regional affairs, making important contributions to safeguarding regional peace and stability and common interests between both countries.

Hor Namhong expressed that developing friendly relations with China is an unswerving policy of the Cambodian government. The Cambodian side cherishes China's great assistance to Cambodia, and is willing to strengthen bilateral cooperation with China, so as to benefit both peoples. The Cambodian side stands ready to actively promote ASEAN-China relations, deeply participate in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and strive for mutual benefit and win-win results.

Hor Namhong expressed that in 2002, Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) was signed in Cambodia, which is of great historical significance. The DOC provides all necessary factors to resolve the South China Sea issue. It not only has binding force, but requires effective implementation from all sides. As early as 2006, the Chinese government announced an excluding statement based on Article 298 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China's rejection and nonparticipation today in the arbitration case unilaterally proposed by the Philippines over the South China Sea conforms to the spirit of the UNCLOS and Article 4 of the DOC, and has sufficient legal basis.