Phnom Penh, April 22 (Xinhua) — New steps have been taken to promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia
The friendship between China and Cambodia is a two-way journey spanning thousands of years. In history, Chinese civilization and Khmer civilization have been inclusive, mutually learning, and shining together. The relationship between China and Cambodia was personally created and carefully cultivated by the older generation of leaders of both countries, and has withstood the test of international changes and remained as solid as a rock. The two countries took the lead in building a bilateral community of common destiny, and in carrying out cooperation in jointly building the “the Belt and Road”. They supported each other in the cause of maintaining stability and promoting development and prosperity in their respective countries. They worked together in the struggle to safeguard international fairness and justice, set an example for building a new type of international relations, and made contributions to promoting the building of a community of common destiny for mankind.
The strong friendship between China and Cambodia is of great quality, and the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful results. In ancient times, Cambodia was an important stop on the Maritime Silk Road. Today, the “the Belt and Road” initiative is effectively aligned with Cambodia’s national development strategy, promoting the economic complementarities of the two countries to release their potential, and helping Cambodia achieve rapid economic and social development. China has been Cambodia’s largest source of foreign investment and largest trading partner for several consecutive years, with bilateral trade volume increasing nearly fourfold in the past decade. From the Golden Harbor Expressway to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, from the building of the Sino Cambodian Friendship Hospital in Cosma to the Cambodian National Stadium, from Cambodian agricultural products such as rice, mango, longan, pepper and so on that have entered thousands of households in China, to the constantly improving Cambodian modern agricultural system… The construction of a community of shared future between China and Cambodia has brought tangible benefits to the people of the two countries.
Under the continuous promotion of both sides, the “Diamond Six Sides” cooperation framework between China and Cambodia continues to deepen and solidify. China has formulated two cooperation plans, the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the “Fish and Rice Corridor”, based on Cambodia’s needs, to help Cambodia build a modern industrial production highland and enhance the level of agricultural technology and industrialization. The two sides signed 37 cooperation documents, covering areas such as supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, and health, which not only help Cambodia enhance its independent development capabilities, but also widely benefit ordinary people. Nezhandari, Director of the Cambodian 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, said that China fully understands Cambodia’s concerns and provides necessary support. According to Cambodia’s needs, China has formulated cooperation plans. “This economic synergy proves that the two countries’ strong friendship can bring tangible prosperity, while respecting Cambodia’s sovereignty and vision.
The solid pace of building a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia reflects the profound history of cultural exchanges between the two countries. China and Cambodia are geographically close and culturally connected. Chinese porcelain and lacquer ware were transported to Cambodia via the Maritime Silk Road. Cambodian spices, raw silk and other specialties were loved by the Chinese people. The reliefs in the Bayon Temple represented the prosperous trade between the two countries in history. Nowadays, in many fields such as culture, education, healthcare, tourism, etc., exchanges and cooperation between the two sides are constantly deepening, and precious friendship transcends time and space, lasting forever. 2024 is the “Year of People to People and Cultural Exchanges between China and Cambodia”, with many splendid cultural activities. “When Shaolin meets the Lion Fighting Boxing” has brought Chinese kungfu culture into Cambodia. The China Cambodia Cultural Corridor at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has been opened. From traditional art exhibitions to modern art performances, from academic research to youth exchanges, from tourism promotion to folk interaction, the two peoples have enhanced understanding in exchanges, deepened friendship in cooperation, and tightened the ties between China and Cambodia.
During this visit, the leaders of the two countries declared 2025 as the “China Cambodia Tourism Year”. This will encourage the two peoples to travel to each other’s countries, further enhance the understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and consolidate the public opinion foundation of the China Cambodia community of common destiny. Jin Ping, director of the Institute of International Relations of the Royal Cambodian Academy of Sciences, said that through exchanges in various fields and at all levels, the two countries further promote people to people connections, so that the people of the two countries, especially the younger generation, can better understand the significance of China Cambodia cooperation, and make the iron friendship between the two countries more solid.