China's assistance to Cambodia is very important for the country's economic and social development, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Keat Chhon said Tuesday.

The government and people of Cambodia are very grateful to China for providing a great amount of aid to Cambodia for social and economic development, he said at a meeting with Edmund Ho, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao.

He said from 1992 to present, China has provided 2.7 billion U. S. dollars in soft loans and grants to Cambodia for rehabilitating and building infrastructures.

Keat Chhon and Edmund Ho also discussed ways to promote tourism.