PHNOM PENH — China is an important partner in Cambodia’s development, Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12, reaffirming rock solid bilateral relations just a week prior to the state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi is set to be in Phnom Penh on April 17 and 18 as part of a three-nation tour in the region during which he will also visit Vietnam and Malaysia. This will be the first time Xi comes to Cambodia since 2016.

During the inauguration ceremony of National Road 71C, which was funded by China and connects Tboung Khmum and Kampong Cham provinces, Hun Manet said that this new road is testament to the fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

In his speech, the prime minister said that China is an indispensable friend of Cambodia, having helped support the country’s economic and social development and ranking number one as financier, China providing a total of $3 billion in concessional financing and aid for infrastructure construction across the country.

As the two countries’ ties turn 67 years old this year, Hun Manet said that their relations were defined as the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2010. 

Cambodia and China have designated 2025 the tourism year during which the tourism sector will be promoted more broadly on the international market and strengthen their “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation and community with shared future.

“I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia’s development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions,” the prime minister said during his speech.

Hun Manet then shrugged off what he called the evaluation of the Cambodia-China ties by some people and the media, ties that have been said to be sour since he assumed office with China appearing to backtrack its assistance to Cambodia.

The prime minister pointed out that the Cambodian government had named a third ring road in Phnom Penh the “Xi Jinping Boulevard” for his contribution to enhancing relations between the two countries. Hun Manet stressed that he had presided over many projects carried out through Chinese-government support and that China remains the largest source of foreign investment in Cambodia.

“This relation has not changed, and we will continue to strengthen it,” he said, adding that Cambodia wished to improve ties with every country.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a press briefing on April 11 that Cambodia is China’s traditionally-friendly neighbor and an iron-clad friend. 

Lin said that two countries have continued to deepen strategic mutual trust and enrich the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework. The two sides also make steady progress in the building of the Industrial Development Corridor and the “Fish and Rice Corridor,” achieve fruitful outcomes in cooperation across the board, and all this delivers tangibly for the two countries’ peoples, he said.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during his visit, the Chinese president will meet with King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Royal Palace. Senate President Hun Sen and Hun Manet will also discuss with Xi strengthening relations between the two countries and will exchange views on issues of common interest. 

“The two sides will have discussions on the elevation and new characterization of the bilateral relations, and have an in-depth exchange of views on areas including political mutual trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, security, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and strategic coordination,” Lin said.