Norodom Sihamoni on Monday made his first official appearance since being named Cambodia's next king, meeting President Hu Jintao of China, a key player in his country's modern politics. Smiling but looking nervous, the 51-year-old Sihamoni said "hello" in Chinese after Hu greeted him with his palms pressed together in a traditional Cambodian gesture as they met at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's parliament. The meeting, even before Sihamoni returned home for his formal coronation, reflected the dominant status of China, the main foreign backer of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Cambodian strongman. Sihamoni, a former ballet teacher and cultural diplomat, was named king on Thursday by a royal council following the abdication of his father, King Norodom Sihanouk. Sihanouk, 81, has been in Beijing for several months receiving medical treatment. "I trust that under Your Majesty's leadership, the Cambodian people will make great progress in construction of your country," Hu said. Sihamoni, speaking in Khmer, replied that he was "extremely excited" to pay his respects to Hu. Sihamoni and his father are scheduled to return to Cambodia on Wednesday, and a coronation ceremony is scheduled on Oct. 29.
