AKP Phnom Penh, August 19, 2025 --

H.E. Vong Sauth, Second Vice President of the National Assembly, met Monday with a delegation of Chinese legal scholars led by Prof. Hu Rong'en, Director of China’s Institute of Legal Studies of the Maritime Silk Road.

The Second Vice President sincerely thanked China for its enduring support to Cambodia over the years—from the early days of peace-building to the current stage of development. 

He noted China’s firm backing of Cambodia’s independent choice in pursuing its national development path and its role as the biggest investor in Cambodia.

The China-Cambodia Tourism Year 2025 is a testament to the deepening and dynamic cooperation between the two countries, he said. 

Both nations are actively enhancing their partnership, fostering closer ties and working together to build a China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future, strengthening friendship and collaboration in this new era, he added.

H.E. Vong Sauth briefed the Chinese delegation on Cambodia’s current economic landscape, underscoring the considerable potential in the agricultural sector—a field he urged Chinese investors to seriously consider.

He added that the sector had advanced significantly in recent years, driven largely by robust support from China, especially through technical expertise and expanded market access opportunities.

The Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, effective since 2022, has brought growing benefits to the people of both nations and is further enhancing economic cooperation and shared prosperity between the two countries, he said.

To help streamline and improve the smoothness and efficiency of bilateral trade and investment, the Second Vice President asked Prof. Hu for assistance to Cambodia in the fields of legal technical know-how and frameworks.

Prof. Hu noted that it was his first official working visit to Cambodia, expressing deep emotional connections to the country and describing it as much like a second home.

As a professor at Shanghai University, he said he founded the Institute of Legal Studies of the Maritime Silk Road to train experts and develop systems to protect investors and enhance the investment climate in line with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

He said he would share the Second Vice President’s recommendations with Chinese investors, urging them to expand their investment in Cambodia. 

Prof. Hu also pledged to boost collaboration with groups such as the China Foundation for Peace and Development in Cambodia and the Cambodian-Chinese Research Association for Progress to boost bilateral trade and investment.

He stressed the importance of improving legal systems and procedures to foster a more stable, attractive, and trustworthy environment for China-Cambodia cooperation.

In closing, H.E. Vong Sauth commended China for helping to mediate last month’s ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, underscoring that this played a crucial role in restoring peace, protecting the lives of innocent civilians, and averting further economic damage for both nations. 

The Second Vice President expressed profound appreciation for China’s positive contributions to peace-building and regional stability.

By Mao Rida