Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off his 2025 Southeast Asia tour in Cambodia, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to its neighbors through a partnership built on trust and shared ambition. This visit highlights how China positions itself as a stabilizing force amid shifting geopolitical tides and economic uncertainties.
Diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia trace back to 1958, but the bond has flourished under a comprehensive strategic partnership launched in 2010. High-level exchanges—like Prime Minister Hun Manet’s September 2023 trip to Beijing—have reaffirmed their mutual respect, equality and non-interference.
Trade and investment form the backbone of this alliance. In 2023, bilateral trade surged to $14.82 billion, making China Cambodia’s top trading partner and investor. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese funding has fueled landmark infrastructure projects that are reshaping Cambodia’s economic landscape.
The Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway, completed in 2022, slashed travel time between the capital and the coast, turbocharging tourism, logistics and commerce. Meanwhile, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone—co-developed by Chinese and Cambodian partners—now hosts over 170 companies and has generated more than 30,000 jobs, equipping locals with new skills and steady incomes.
As Xi’s tour continues to Vietnam and Malaysia, the Cambodia leg serves as a testament to how strategic partnerships rooted in trust and practical cooperation can drive sustainable growth. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, this model of win‑win development offers a fresh blueprint for regional collaboration in the 21st century.
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Xi's Cambodia visit: Friendship based on trust and shared development
cgtn.com
