China Cambodia Photo: VCG

The relationship between China and Cambodia is like a great river flowing through the ages, uniting two civilizations that share a millennia-old friendship. Since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations on July 19, 1958, the two countries have upheld an "ironclad" bond, standing shoulder to shoulder through the tests of history. Together, they have written remarkable chapters of mutual trust, political support, win-win economic and trade cooperation, and deep people-to-people ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid his first state visit to Cambodia in 2016, and since then, the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between Cambodia and China has advanced at a rapid pace, further deepening the traditional friendship between the two nations. In 2023, our two countries agreed to seize the opportunity to build a community with a shared future in the new era, aiming to advance the bilateral relationship with high standard, high level and high quality. 

On Friday, President Xi concluded his state visit to Cambodia, his second in nine years. The relationship was further enhanced when President Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. 

Cambodia has long been a good friend of China - a true, trustworthy one that has consistently supported the one-China principle. The China-Cambodia friendship stands as a model for the world and serves as a testament to both countries' joint efforts to uphold peace and promote development for the benefit of their peoples. In this context, the building of an all-weather community with a shared future in the new era between Cambodia and China naturally reflects their enduring friendship. Cambodia - along with the rest of the world - recognizes that China remains steadfast in its commitment to global peace. Values such as good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence are deeply rooted in Chinese culture and are cherished by all.

Peaceful diplomacy, which creates opportunities for all countries based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, embodies Chinese philosophy and wisdom. China consistently respects and values the development paths chosen by other countries in accordance with the will of their people.

For Cambodia and other countries of the Global South, building such a community is a viable path to unite with China in safeguarding humanitarian interests and preserving the international order. Cambodia and China have actively supported the creation of a community with a shared future, aiming to enhance the exchange of experiences, promote mutual benefit, achieve win-win outcomes and uphold the principles of multilateralism.

As a vital pivot along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Cambodia is among the first to participate in the cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Thanks to joint efforts, bilateral collaboration within the BRI framework has borne rich fruits. Under the BRI framework, a series of landmark projects - including the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone - have taken root in Cambodia, standing as vivid testimonies to pragmatic China-Cambodia cooperation. In order to implement the joint construction of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, both sides are continuously advancing the building of the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, and helping Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy achieve a high-quality synergy with the BRI.

Efforts to cultivate human capital - through scholarships for Cambodian students to study in China and the engagement of Chinese stakeholders in Cambodia - have been crucial in strengthening bilateral ties. Moreover, the various projects carried out by Chinese civil society organizations in Cambodia under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation have had a profound and positive impact on people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. These efforts have become a driving force in consolidating the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia, aligning with the principles of bilateral cooperation, and making a meaningful contribution to Cambodia's further development.

The leaders of both countries have designated 2025 as the Cambodia-China Tourism Year. Cambodia boasts abundant travel resources: beyond the iconic Angkor Wat, its capital Phnom Penh is home to renowned landmarks such as Wat Phnom and the Royal Palace, while Sihanoukville on the southwest coast is celebrated as a premier seaside resort. Chinese arrivals to Cambodia surged by 67.6 percent in the first two months of this year, signaling a tourism boom. To further boost tourism, Chinese heritage experts have contributed to the restoration of temples in the Angkor park, while stakeholders - especially the Cambodia-China Friendship Association - continue to work on deepening grassroots ties and bringing the peoples of both nations ever closer.

Despite uncertainties facing the world today, Cambodia's philosophy remains clear: to pursue cooperation with other countries based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and shared prosperity, in order to achieve greater development outcomes for the benefit of Cambodia. On behalf of a Cambodian civil society organization, I believe that all nations should work together to find mechanisms for resolving these challenges and strive jointly for the common good of humanity.

The article was compiled based on a Global Times interview with Ek Sam Ol, president of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association. [email protected]