President Xi Jinping arrived in Cambodia on Thursday for a two-day state visit that serves as an opportunity to further strengthen already robust relations.

The visit, Xi’s first since 2016, will conclude a three-nation Southeast Asian tour that included stops in Vietnam and Malaysia.

In a speech released by CCTV, Xi said China firmly supports Cambodia upholding its strategic independence and is willing to deepen higher level political mutual trust with the Southeast Asian nation.

In an article published on Thursday in Cambodian media, Xi urged Phnom Penh to oppose "hegemonism" and "protectionism", repeating messages he sent earlier this week to Vietnam and Malaysia in the first two legs of his trip.

In the signed article titled "Together We Strive, Together We Thrive: Toward a Stable and Sustainable China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future in the New Era" published in Khmer Times, Jian Hua Daily and Fresh News ahead of his arrival, Xi said he hopes his visit to Phnom Penh will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

Noting that a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is deeply rooted in the historic legacy of good-neighbourly relations, Xi said the two countries' friendly exchanges span two millennia of their shared history, thanks to geographical proximity.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet recently described Beijing as “an important and indispensable friend of Cambodia that has helped support the country’s economic and social development.”

Xi was greeted at the airport in Phnom Penh by King Norodom Sihamoni.

During his visit, Xi will meet Hun Manet and his father Senate president Hun Sen, who preceded Hun Manet as prime minister.

Trade will likely be a major topic of Xi’s discussions in Cambodia, which faces among the highest tariff rates proposed by Washington. In addition to US President Donald Trump's universal 10 percent tariff, the country faces the threat of a 49 percent tax on exports to the United States once his 90-day pause expires.

In addition to discussions on strengthening bilateral ties and regional and international issues, several agreements are expected to be signed on cooperation in various sectors.

In Vietnam and Malaysia earlier, Xi emphasised strengthening ties, particularly in trade and investment, amid global economic uncertainties and the backdrop of trade tensions with the US. He underscored the need to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and uphold the multilateral trading system.

China is presenting itself as a source of stability and certainty as Southeast Asia scrambles to respond to tariffs imposed by Trump, which threaten the region export-oriented economies whose largest markets are generally the United States.

Cambodia's rapid growth in recent decades has been fuelled largely by Beijing.

In Hun Manet’s remarks this month at the inauguration of a Chinese-funded road, he called China “a first-class partner country”, pointing to achievements like the inauguration of the Chinese-named Angkor Siem Reap Airport and a Phnom Penh ring road named after Xi as evidence of continued strong relations and gratitude, and noted China’s continued ranking as the top investor in Cambodia in 2024.

China is Cambodia’s largest trading partner, surpassing US$15 billion in 2024 and representing nearly 30 percent of Cambodia’s total trade volume.

Beijing also helped fund an expansion of the Ream Naval Base on Cambodia’s southern coast. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2025-04-17 HKT 13:59