ISTANBUL

Cambodian’s newly elected Prime Minister Hun Manet will visit China this week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

“At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14 to 16,” said Mao Ning, spokeswoman of the ministry.

Mao said the Cambodian leader's visit reflects the "high importance the new Cambodian government places on developing relations with China."

Hun Manet assumed office last month, succeeding his father Hun Sen, who had been the country's leader for 37 years.

The upcoming trip marks his first official bilateral visit. He had attended the leaders' summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Indonesia last week.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi was the first foreign leader to visit Cambodia after Hun Manet was designated as prime minister.