China pledges support for Cambodia’s changing of the guard in meeting with Hun Sen and son
- Top Chinese diplomat says Beijing firmly supports Cambodia to safeguard national interests and national dignity and a greater role on world and regional stages
- Incoming PM Hun Manet pledges to promote agriculture, manufacturing, economic and trade investment to strengthen coordination with China
China is willing to work with Cambodia’s new government to build close and high-quality ties, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with the country’s next leader, Hun Manet on Sunday.
“An international observer mission with representatives from over 60 countries unanimously agreed that the election was fair, transparent and in accordance with the law, and the results of the election reflected the shared aspirations of the people,” Wang said in talks with incoming prime minister Hun Manet and outgoing leader Hun Sen in Phnom Penh.
“The noise made by some external forces pales in comparison to the people’s choice.”
02:59
Cambodia’s Hun Sen resigns as prime minister after 38 years of hardline rule, hands power to son
Wang said China appreciated the historic contributions made by Hun Sen in building the China-Cambodia relationship and leading the country from chaos to stability, and from poverty to prosperity.
Wang’s remarks came as Phnom Penh becomes increasingly reliant on Chinese aid and investment.
China was by far Cambodia’s biggest trading partner last year, with a trade volume of US$11.6 billion, of which Chinese exports accounted for a staggering 89.38 per cent, according to Cambodia’s customs and excise department.
Cambodia’s Hun Sen wants ‘back in Beijing’s orbit’ amid US balancing act
China was willing to establish close connections with the new Cambodian government, promote a new era of China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnerships and build “a high-quality, high-level and high standard China-Cambodia community”, Wang said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement.
“[China will] firmly support Cambodia to safeguard national interests and national dignity, and firmly support Cambodia to play a greater role in international and regional stages,” he said.
In a statement on Sunday, Cambodia’s foreign ministry said China supported “Cambodia’s sovereignty, emerging government leadership and development path”.
01:19
China and Cambodia hold first-ever joint maritime military exercises
Hun Manet expressed gratitude for China’s help providing Covid-19 vaccines and in Cambodia’s socio-economic development and infrastructure, according to Cambodia’s foreign ministry.
China’s foreign ministry said Hun Manet reaffirmed his country’s willingness to strengthen strategic coordination with China, pledging to promote agriculture, manufacturing, economic and trade investment and cooperation in practical areas such as tourism and education.
Cambodia fears rising surveillance from China’s Belt and Road Initiative
According to the Chinese statement, Hun Manet emphasised the government’s “unchanging position” on the one-China policy and non-interference in China’s internal affairs regarding Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.
Wang met his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn on Sunday to discuss Hun Manet’s official visit to Beijing and his participation in the 20th China-Asean Expo and China-Asean Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, and the third Belt and Road Initiative forum.
