Cambodia and China See the Future Together
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds a welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen ahead of their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2023. Photo by Xinhua/Ding Haitao
- By Teng Yalirozy
- February 11, 2023 4:10 PM
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia and China have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in core areas, and pledged not to meddle in each other’s internal affairs and to resist all forms of hegemony.
This and a long list of other issues were discussed as Prime Minister Hun Sen paid an official visit to China on Feb. 9 through 11, during which he met with President Xi Jinping and several Chinese officials with talks also turning to future bilateral cooperation and increased Chinese investment in Cambodia.
According to a press release of Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued on Feb. 11, the two countries concurred on close cooperation in six priority areas: political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges.
Cambodia and China also agreed to fully implement the Intergovernmental Coordination Committee while working toward the signing of a new action plan to build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future as soon as possible, the press release said.
The two countries agreed to further pursue China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Cambodia to ensure more effective and safe infrastructure projects.
While China has assisted Cambodia in the preliminary planning, design, and studies for railways projects, during his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president has announced $44 million in assistance for railway development in Cambodia.
On Feb. 9, Hun Sen discussed with representatives of three Chinese construction firms Cambodia’s railroad projects, water transportation in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province, and the expressway to connect Phnom Penh to Bavet city in Svay Rieng province.
“Both sides look forward to an early railway connection between Cambodia and China-Lao-Thailand Railway,” read the joint statement issued on Feb. 11.
According to the press release of Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries intend to cooperate to develop agriculture and actively promote the import of high-quality Cambodian products, making full use of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement that came into effect in Jan. 2022.
Regarding energy, both countries stated that they promote all forms of clean energy and the Cambodia-China Low Carbon Demonstration Zone project of the South-South Cooperation on Climate Change in Preah Sihanouk Province. Ecological and environmental protection management was also stressed as an important matter to address.
During Hun Sen’s visit, it was also agreed that the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces would expand interactions at all levels, the press release said. The two countries also agreed to continue working together to prevent and combat terrorism, transnational crime, and other crimes.
According to Cambodia’s press release, Cambodia and China will promote cooperation in technology transfer and people-to-people exchanges in science and technology while setting out some policies to assist students in each country.
During the meeting between Hun Sen and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, documents were signed regarding a new era of Cambodia-China shared community, a university building project in Kratie province, the 2023-2024 economic and trade plan, export requirements for live aquatic animals, media cooperation and Asia cooperation. Documents also included the Cambodia-China Development Cooperation Plan 2023-2025, a poverty reduction plan, loans for landmine clearance and other development projects.
China also expressed support for cultural heritage cooperation, traditional medicine, and other health fields.
No internal interference and hegemonism
Chinese representatives firmly stated that China opposes any foreign interference in Cambodia’s internal affairs and respects Cambodia’s policies for development and its sovereignty, the press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The Cambodian side responded by reiterating its unwavering support for the One-China Policy and expressed the country’s determination not to meddle in the internal affairs of China, the issue of Taiwan or any separatist activity.
“Cambodia will not develop any form of official relations with Taiwan,” Cambodia’s press release read.
The press release also indicated that both countries resolutely rejected the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues, the use of double standards, and the abuse of democratic principles as a way to meddle in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.
The two countries steadily stand for a world with peace and fairness, and are ready to safeguard the international system with the United Nations as its core, the press release read, “opposing all forms of hegemonism, power politics, unilateralism, exclusive bloc politics, which target specific countries.”
As for the issue of the South China Sea, the situation has remained generally stable, both Cambodia and China said, thanks to the combined efforts of China and the ASEAN nations.
“The two countries call on relevant parties to carry forward the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea fully and effectively and reach an early conclusion on a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea on the basis of mutual consensus,” the release read.
Following his trip to China, Prime Minister Hun Sen will visit Laos on Feb. 13 and 14 to boost long-lasting strategic partnership between the two countries, the press release from Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
