By Xing Heping

The Promising Future of China-Cambodia Relations

By Xing Heping

The 23rd Chinese naval escort task force arriving in Cambodia for a five-day visit on Oct. 16, 2016.

The relationship between China and Cambodia is unique compared to China’s relations with other ASEAN member states. In recent years, the two countries have continuously pushed forward their bilateral ties with consolidated political trust, deepened cooperation in various fields and expanded common interests. Notably, Cambodia is praised as one of China’s “best buddies” by Chinese netizens. Sino-Cambodian ties have played an exemplary and guiding role in the development of relations between China and other ASEAN countries. These amicable relations have been further enhanced by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cambodia in mid-October this year.

The relationship between China and Cambodia is very different from China’s relations with other countries because of the close geographical and cultural links that exist between the two countries. The history of friendly exchanges between the two sides can be traced back more than 1,000 years. The traditional friendship established after the independence of the two countries is always deep-rooted and remains strong despite changes in international situation. China shows respect for Cambodia’s neutral and independent policy, and fully supports Cambodia’s efforts to defend territorial integrity, develop its economy and promote social progress. All these achievements are based on the political mutual trust cultivated by previous generations of state leaders of both countries such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Norodom Sihanouk.

People of the two countries have always been willing to help each other, and mutual support in hard times has been normality for both sides. China has maintained an extremely close relationship with Cambodia’s royal family represented by Norodom Sihanouk and Norodom Sihamoni. The royal family has played an irreplaceable role in maintaining and promoting the development of Sino-Cambodian ties. More importantly, advancing friendly relations with China is not only the political consensus held by both the current ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition party, Cambodia National Rescue Party, but also receives widespread support from the Cambodian people. Cambodia and China share a high degree of coherence in the notion of national development, providing broad space for the implementation of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

We have every reason to believe that the Sino-Cambodian relations built on the time-honored friendship will continue to move forward, and bilateral cooperation in all aspects will also be upgraded in both quality and quantity. China will support the ASEAN integration process and the building of the ASEAN Community. Promotion of China-Cambodia friendship and that of China-ASEAN relations complement each other. China attaches great importance to Cambodia’s active role in ASEAN affairs and expects Cambodia to continue its efforts in strengthening China-ASEAN relations and promoting regional peace and development. Cambodia needs assistance to revitalize its economy, change its development model and improve people’s lives. Through the implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia’s Rectangular Strategy, Cambodia can benefit from its economic and trade cooperation with China. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that China’s aid has not only been helpful to Cambodia’s economic development, but also strengthened the political independence of Cambodia.

Faced with global and regional challenges from economic instability, security risks, terrorism and climate change, the two countries will strengthen their cooperation to solve problems of common concern and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, so as to make contributions to stability, peace and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole.