Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cambodia, taking place from April 17 to 18, 2025, has already resulted in the signing of 37 major cooperation agreements and renewed momentum in the long-standing Cambodia-China partnership. The visit, which continues today, signals a deepening of political trust and economic collaboration between the two nations.
Invited by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, this is President Xi’s second state visit to Cambodia, following his first in 2016. His arrival in Phnom Penh on April 17 was met with an extraordinary display of hospitality, with crowds of Cambodians lining the streets in a warm public reception that Xi called “deeply touching.”
Strengthening Bilateral Ties Through High-Level Meetings
President Xi’s itinerary has included important meetings with Cambodia’s top leaders:
- A Royal Audience with King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the Mother of the Cambodian Nation
- Bilateral talks with Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet
- A strategic dialogue with Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen
These meetings have reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, now in its 15th year. Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hailed the visit as a landmark moment in bilateral diplomacy.
37 Agreements Signed to Expand Cooperation
On April 17, President Xi and Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over a signing ceremony at the Peace Palace, where 37 cooperation documents were signed. These agreements span a wide range of sectors, including:
- Trade and Investment
- Education and Training
- Agriculture, Health, and Water Resources
- Finance, Media, and Youth Affairs
- Tourism and Women’s Empowerment
The agreements reflect a unified agenda to boost development, increase economic integration, and enhance institutional collaboration.
Strong Endorsement for the Funan Techo Canal Project
A key highlight of this visit has been China’s commitment to support the Funan Techo Canal, a major infrastructure project expected to transform Cambodia’s inland waterway system. President Xi reaffirmed China’s full support for the canal and positioned it as part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed deep appreciation for China’s backing, noting the canal’s potential to bolster logistics, trade, and agricultural productivity. He also praised China’s role in promoting global peace and development, especially through initiatives like the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilisation Initiative.
Political Solidarity and Institutional Cooperation
Samdech Techo Hun Sen described Xi Jinping as “an old, trusted, and valued friend of Cambodia” and acknowledged the consistent support China has extended to the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) over the past decades. Both sides affirmed their intention to strengthen party-to-party relations and expand cooperation in human resource development and leadership training.
President Xi pledged continued support for Cambodia’s development across sectors, particularly in education, skills training, and institutional strengthening.
The two sides also expressed their determination to ensure the effective implementation of the Diamond Cooperation Framework, and accelerate the construction of the “Industry and Technology Corridor” and the “Fish and Rice Corridor”—two strategic initiatives that highlight the evolving economic and technological dimension of the partnership.
Comprehensive Agenda for Shared Prosperity
Beyond bilateral development, Cambodia and China also discussed broader areas of cooperation, including:
- Political governance and policy coordination
- National defence and regional security
- People-to-people and cultural exchanges
- Human security and social development
- Multilateral and international collaboration
President Xi’s visit is scheduled to conclude later today, April 18, with further engagements and discussions. As both nations move toward building a Cambodia-China community of shared future in the new era, this visit represents a new phase of high-quality, high-level, and high-standard cooperation.
The enduring nature of this relationship—built on mutual trust, non-interference, and shared aspirations for peace and prosperity—has positioned Cambodia and China as strategic partners in both regional stability and global development.
