AKP Phnom Penh, April 08, 2026 —

In today’s world, major-power rivalry is intensifying, and regional conflicts are emerging in quick succession. From geopolitical tensions to trade frictions, and from fluctuations in energy and food prices to turbulence in financial markets, the global development environment is fraught with uncertainty. Against this backdrop, stability, mutual trust, and cooperation are more important than ever. For Cambodia and China, the more volatile the international situation, the more imperative it is to strengthen confidence, deepen mutual trust, and move forward together.

Political Trust: From “Ironclad Friendship” to an “All-Weather Partnership”

Looking back at the history of Cambodia-China relations, the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time and shifting international dynamics. Building on the profound friendship forged by previous generations of leaders, in April 2025 President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet jointly elevated bilateral ties to a “New Era All-Weather Cambodia-China Community of Shared Future,” taking the relationship to new heights. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen and current Prime Minister Hun Manet have repeatedly emphasised that China is Cambodia’s most reliable and trustworthy friend.

On the multilateral stage, Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted the need to continue strengthening the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which plays a crucial role in maintaining regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity. As early as 2012, during Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN, it actively worked to avoid specific references to the South China Sea issue in the communiqué. Regarding the Taiwan issue, Cambodia firmly adheres to the One-China policy, recognising Taiwan as an inalienable part of China’s territory.

On March 25, 2026, Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in Beijing. He stated that no matter the shifts in the international environment, the friendship between Cambodia and China has endured through thick and thin and has grown stronger over time. This statement not only summarises the history of bilateral relations but also indicates the future direction: the more complex the international situation, the more Cambodia and China should stand shoulder to shoulder and overcome challenges together.

Economic Cooperation: From Trade and Investment to Joint Industrial Development

China has long been Cambodia’s largest trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment. In 2025, bilateral trade reached US$ 19.73 billion, with Chinese direct investment agreements exceeding US$ 5.4 billion, accounting for a significant share of Cambodia’s foreign investment. The continued inflow of Chinese capital, technology, and industrial resources not only provides strong momentum for Cambodia’s economic growth but also drives industrial upgrading, infrastructure improvement, and job creation.

In the energy and power sector, Chinese-invested enterprises have long been deeply involved in building Cambodia’s power industry, becoming essential pillars of the sector. Currently, Chinese companies are the largest investors in Cambodia’s electricity sector, major contributors to installed capacity, and primary electricity suppliers. With hydropower, thermal power, and renewable energy projects coming online, the national electrification rate has surged from less than 50% to over 95% in recent years. Chinese companies have also actively participated in the construction of transmission networks, providing stable energy support for industrial growth, urban expansion, and regional economic activities.

Chinese firms have played a pivotal role in Cambodia’s infrastructure development, serving as key drivers of the country’s transportation network. In recent years, they have participated extensively in the construction of highways, bridges, expressways, airports, and ports. Notably, the Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway, built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, is Cambodia’s first expressway, significantly reducing travel time between the capital and its largest deep-water port. Meanwhile, the Techo International Airport project, led by China Construction Third Bureau First Engineering Co., Ltd., is designed and constructed to the world’s highest 4F standard, with a long-term planned annual passenger capacity of 50 million. These projects not only enhance domestictransportation but also strengthen regional and international connectivity. They represent landmark achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative jointly built by Cambodia and China, showcasing the depth of Cambodia-China cooperation in infrastructure and economic development.

In aviation cooperation, on September 8, 2025, Cambodia National Airlines-Air Cambodia and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) signed an MOU in Zhengzhou for the purchase of 20 C909 aircraft. Once operational, these aircraft will strengthen air connections between Cambodia, China’s second- and third-tier cities, and key destinations in Southeast Asia, further boosting regional aviation network connectivity, driving sustained growth in tourismand trade, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, thus strengthening both economic and cultural ties.

Pragmatic Cooperation: From Combating Scams to Visa-Free Access for Chinese Nationals

Under the strategic guidance of leaders from both countries, pragmatic cooperation between Cambodia and China extends beyond macroeconomic domains to concrete initiatives directly impacting the daily lives of their peoples.The crackdown on online scams and the implementation of a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens serve as vivid examples of Cambodia-China pragmatic cooperation in action.

In recent years, online scams have emerged asone of the most persistent threats to regional security, directly endangering the property and social stability of citizens in both countries. Cambodia has demonstrated strong political resolve by making the fight against online scams a national priority, launching the toughest and the most resolute and comprehensive crackdown, and mobilising law enforcement to fully dismantle cybercrime networks.

Meanwhile, law enforcement and security cooperation between the two countries has further strengthened. In March 2026, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security supplied police equipment to Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), enhancing Cambodia’s capacity to prevent and combat cybercrime. Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin emphasised that there is no place for such crimes to hide in Cambodia, while Senior Minister in Charge of Special Missions and Head of CCOS Chhay Sinarith recognised China as one of Cambodia’s most trustworthy partners. 

Such deep collaboration in non-traditional security fields exemplifies the pragmatic dimension of the Cambodia-China community of shared future and sets a model for regional security governance. On March 30, 2026, the Cambodian National Assembly approved a draft law on combating online scams, providing a solid legal foundation for enforcement. Minister of Tourism Hout Hak stated that authorities are fully prepared in terms of policies, enforcement mechanisms, and services to implement the “China Ready” initiative, while cracking down on scams to ensure the safety and confidence of Chinese tourists.

Educational Cooperation: From Cultural Appreciation to Joint Talent Cultivation

Education represents one of the most profound fields of Cambodia-China cultural exchange, carrying the legacy of bilateral friendship across generations and nurturing future hope.

From mutual cultural appreciation to joint vocational training, educational cooperation between the two countries is taking on a multi-dimensional development pattern, infusing enduring vitality into the bilateral relationship.

Recently, SOEUNG Rathchavy, Cambodian Ambassador to China, entrusted by Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, presented Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) with a collection of valuable books covering Cambodia’s historical achievements and royal archives. BFSU has long offered a Cambodian language major, cultivating a large number of language professionals for exchanges between the two countries. This book donation enriches academic resources and reflects the high importance the Cambodian royal family attaches to Cambodia-China people-to-people exchanges.

In vocational education and talent cultivation, pragmatic cooperation is also advancing. The Cambodia Industrial & Economic Development Research Institute is promoting the establishment ofthe Cambodia-China TVET Base. This base will create an integrated platform combining job skills training, labor dispatch, social protection, capacity building, and income growth, enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Cambodia’s labor force and providing young people with tangible pathways for development.

Conclusion: Injecting Certainty into a Turbulent World

The rougher the seas, the more precious it is to sail together. Cambodia and China exemplify mutual trust through action: from political cooperation to economic development, from security governance to education and people’s welfare. This steadiness and commitment derive not only from the traditional friendship forged by the leaders of both countries but also from the tangible benefits experienced in the daily lives of their peoples.

No matter how international circumstances shift, Cambodia and China continue to move forward side by side. This is the common aspiration of the two peoples and the certainty and strength that a turbulent world most needs. 

By Song Shujun
The Director of News Centre of Khmer Times Chinese

(The views expressed are his own.)