Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on his first overseas trip of 2025, visiting Cambodia as part of a Southeast Asian tour that also includes Vietnam and Malaysia. This visit underscores the deep friendship and shared development goals between China and Cambodia, highlighting the strategic importance China places on its neighbors in Southeast Asia.
The two countries have enjoyed a strong relationship since establishing diplomatic ties in 1958. Over the decades, China and Cambodia have built a partnership based on mutual respect, practical cooperation, and a shared vision for national rejuvenation. Their bond serves as a model of how nations can work together on the principles of equality, non-interference, and mutual benefit.
China remains Cambodia’s largest trading partner and investor. In 2023, bilateral trade reached an impressive $14.82 billion. Chinese investments have been pivotal in transforming Cambodia’s infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative. Notably, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, completed in 2022, has significantly reduced travel time between the capital and the coastal province, boosting trade, tourism, and logistics.
The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, a joint venture between Chinese and Cambodian partners, has become a hub for manufacturing and employment. Hosting over 170 companies and creating more than 30,000 jobs, the zone has provided Cambodians with new technical skills and stable incomes.
President Xi’s visit is expected to launch a new action plan for building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. This plan aims to enhance cooperation in emerging sectors such as green development, vocational education, public health, digital economy, and cultural exchanges.
Cambodia, as a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), plays a vital role in enhancing regional connectivity. The Belt and Road corridors passing through Cambodia link with projects in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, creating a network that boosts intra-ASEAN trade and supports the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity 2025.
As China continues to be ASEAN’s largest trading partner, with trade reaching $911.7 billion in 2023, Cambodia stands to benefit from deepening regional supply chains. Both China and Cambodia are part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement, which further integrates them into global markets.
China’s commitment to its neighbors is not just about economic ties but also about improving people’s lives. In Cambodia, China has supported the construction of rural roads, schools, hospitals, and water supply systems, positively impacting local communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s provision of vaccines and medical equipment reinforced its role as a reliable and compassionate partner.
Looking ahead, there are vast opportunities for cooperation between the two nations in areas like renewable energy, agricultural technology, and digital finance. As Cambodia aspires to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030, and China pursues its vision of national rejuvenation, their shared development paths are becoming increasingly aligned.
President Xi’s Southeast Asia trip sends a powerful message of China’s commitment to building strong relationships based on mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit. The deepening ties between China and Cambodia not only strengthen their own development but also contribute to regional peace and economic resilience.
