PHNOM PENH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said on Monday that 2016 was a "highly fruitful year" for China-Cambodia relations and cooperation thanks to the exchange of visits by the top leaders of the two countries.

Xiong said at a reception celebrating the Chinese New Year here that the mutual visits of the top leaders had elevated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new high.

He said the relationship between the two countries was based on mutual respect and mutual support for each other's core interests.

The ambassador added that the excellent relationship between China and Cambodia had also contributed to upholding peace and stability in the region.

Looking forward to 2017, he was strongly confident that the Sino-Cambodian relations and cooperation would be further deepened in all fields for the greater interests of the peoples of the two countries.