Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing’s strong economic ties with Cambodia in an official message released during his visit to the Kingdom for the Khmer New Year celebrations, outlining a strategic vision for deepening trade, infrastructure, and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The message—issued ahead of bilateral engagements during Xi’s second visit to Cambodia in nine years—emphasized the importance of building a “China-Cambodia community with a shared future,” rooted in mutual respect and development.
Infrastructure and Industrial Cooperation
President Xi highlighted China’s role in Cambodia’s infrastructure modernization, referencing flagship projects such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the Kingdom’s largest power plant, and its national stadium. These developments, he said, have delivered tangible benefits to the Cambodian people and demonstrated the depth of China-Cambodia cooperation.
The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ), developed jointly by both countries, was underscored as a successful model of industrial partnership. Now hosting more than 200 international companies, the SSEZ is playing a key role in Cambodia’s economic diversification and industrial upgrading. Xi added that Chinese agricultural experts have supported the development of modern farming strategies in Cambodia, strengthening the country’s food security and productivity.
Trade and Investment Momentum
Xi noted that China has consistently been Cambodia’s largest trading partner and source of foreign investment. He pointed to the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement as a critical enabler of expanded market access, particularly for Cambodian agricultural products such as bananas, mangoes, and longans, which are increasingly entering Chinese households.
He further emphasized the ongoing success of the China-Cambodia “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework—spanning politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people exchange—as a foundation for long-term economic collaboration.
To further align strategies, Xi called for greater synergy between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy, particularly through the development of an Industrial and Technological Corridor and a Fish and Rice Corridor aimed at boosting Cambodia’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
Forward-Looking Economic Cooperation
The message outlined key future priorities including expanded cooperation in advanced manufacturing, green development, and the digital economy. Xi stressed the need to safeguard multilateral trade systems and ensure the resilience of regional industrial and supply chains.
He also advocated for deeper cooperation on security, including countering external interference, cyber threats, and fraud. Such collaboration, he noted, would help protect major Belt and Road projects and promote a stable and secure investment environment.
A Shared Regional Vision
Placing the bilateral partnership within a broader regional context, Xi described China and Cambodia as key members of the “big Asian family.” He called on both nations to act as “pioneers and pacesetters” in implementing global development, security, and civilization initiatives. By supporting inclusive economic globalization and resisting protectionism, Xi said the two countries can jointly contribute to regional peace, prosperity, and modernization.
President Xi’s official message reflects China’s intention to deepen its role as Cambodia’s principal economic partner through strategic investment, infrastructure development, and multilateral cooperation. His Khmer New Year greeting underscored a long-term commitment to mutual growth, with a clear focus on enhancing the economic foundations of the bilateral relationship.
As Cambodia continues to position itself as a hub for trade and industry in Southeast Asia, the message serves as both a reaffirmation of past cooperation and a roadmap for future business and investment collaboration under the framework of a “shared future.”
