INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes, Chinese President Xi
Jinping said on Thursday while meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia.Xi said he believes Chinese
modernization will bring more opportunities to neighboring countries, including Cambodia, noting that building a China-Cambodia community
with a shared future is a choice of history and the people.China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations and
have always remained rock-solid
The bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the older generation of leaders of the two countries.In February 2023, during the then
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to China, the two sides agreed to develop a "diamond cooperation framework" with six priority
areas: political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges.In September
2023, Hun Manet chose China as his first official overseas destination after assuming office as Cambodia's prime minister
During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hun Manet pledged to further carry forward the ironclad friendship between Cambodia
and China.In May 2024, a road in Phnom Penh was named "Xi Jinping Boulevard" by the Royal Government of Cambodia to honor the Chinese
leader's historic contributions to the country's development
At the naming ceremony, Hun Manet highlighted that bilateral ties have entered their best period in history under the leadership and joint
efforts of Xi and Cambodian leaders.Fruitful results in economic and trade cooperationFirst, two-way trade has expanded remarkably thanks to
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade deal and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years
And in 2024, two-way trade reached $17.83 billion, up by 20.7 percent year-on-year.The approval for high-quality Cambodian agricultural and
fishery products such as rice, bananas, mangoes, longans, coconuts and basa fish to enter the Chinese market has not only graced the dining
tables of Chinese consumers but also boosted the incomes of Cambodian people.Second, investment cooperation has continued to deepen
China has remained Cambodia's largest source of foreign investment for 13 consecutive years, with investments spanning a wide range of
sectors, including transportation, power, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, special economic zones, as well as information and
communications technology, characterized by extensive coverage, large scale and strong results.About 95.4 percent of the Cambodian
respondents have a positive attitude toward Chinese companies investing or operating in Cambodia
And 95 percent believe that China has made positive contributions to the development of the world economy, according to a recent CGTN
poll. Cultural exchanges boost China-Cambodia tiesIn addition to political and economic cooperation, the two countries have set an example
in conducting cultural exchanges, which not only strengthen mutual understanding but also draw closer bonds between the two
peoples.China-Cambodia people-to-people exchanges, as a key pillar of China-Cambodia friendship and cooperation, were boosted by the
China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year 2024.Over the years, the medical cooperation programs, including "Love Heart Journey," "Bright
Journey" and "Smile Journey," have provided quality health care service to grassroots populations in more than 20 Cambodian provinces and
cities.As a cultural bridge between the two countries, the Confucius Institute has also provided free Chinese courses to more than 100,000
Cambodian learners since its establishment in Cambodia in 2009.The cultural exchanges between the two countries are expected to continue to
expand under the guidance of the China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative, which will benefit areas ranging from culture, youth, media,
think tanks, tourism, and technology to healthcare and cultural relics restoration."Let us have more frequent people-to-people exchanges
We should uphold solidarity and harmony, have more cultural dialogues, increase experience sharing on state governance, expand diverse forms
of cooperation in areas of culture, tourism, youth exchange and protection and restoration of cultural heritages, and promote
people-to-people connectivity," Xi said in a signed article ahead of his arrival in Cambodia for a state visit.
