AKP Chongqing, April 21, 2025 --

The Cambodia-China ironclad relations have led to sound cooperation on a wide range from political cooperation to economic, trade and cultural cooperation, said H.E. Dr. Chheng Kimlong, Vice Chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Central Committee.

The two countries have advanced the high-level, high-quality and high-standard cooperation and partnership, he said.

H.E. Dr. Chheng Kimlong recalled that Cambodia and China established diplomatic relations in 1958, and the traditional friendship has been fostered by several generations of leaders of both countries, from the former King Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, former Prime Minister, current President of the Senate and CPP President with President Xi Jinping and until today with His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the current King, and Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, the current Prime Minister.

On China-Cambodia economic and trade relations, the two-way trade has grown dramatically over the past 20 years, fostered by increasing trade linkages, he said.

He also emphasised that the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Cambodia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the updated Action Plan on Building a Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2024-2028), and the six-priorities Diamond Hexagon Cooperation have contributed to growing economic and trade ties.

Over the past 13 years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$17.83 billion, an increase of 20.7 percent over 2023.

“The Cambodia-China iron-clad relations have become a model of equality, trust, respect and win-win cooperation, as per the words of President Xi Jinping during his latest visit to Cambodia,” he said.

The relations have also become a model for international cooperation in building a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era and for international relations, particularly between countries of different sizes and political systems,” he added.

H.E. Dr. Chheng Kimlong also highlighted areas of cooperation, including education, human resource development, and so on.

“There will be more private sector engagement between Cambodia and China, especially between Chongqing and Cambodia in the promotion of free trade and economic zones, including the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ), the “Fish and Rice Corridor” part of the global food security, the “Industrial and Technological Corridor”, and Cultural Corridor between Cambodia and China, he said.

The event was held in line with the “Stories of CPC —Achievements of Chongqing in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” being held from April 20 to 22 in Chongqing.

Under the theme of "striving to write a Chongqing chapter of Chinese modernization," the event was attended by more than 200 political party leaders from over 50 countries, some foreign envoys to China and representatives of foreign business communities in China. 

By Chea Vannak