Cambodia's prime minister-designate Hun Manet (third from left) holding a meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (second from right) at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Sunday (Aug 13, 2023). - AFP
BEIJING (Bloomberg): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing is willing to work with Cambodia’s new government to build to "high-quality” ties as Prime Minister Hun Sen prepares to hand the reins to his son.
Wang met Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on Sunday, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. He also met the Cambodian king, Prime Minister-designate Hun Manet and other top officials during his visit which began Saturday.
Cambodia’s ruling party claimed a landslide election victory last month, with Hun Sen saying he will step aside as prime minister after nearly four decades in power.
The 70-year-old strongman said the decision was made to keep the country stable, and that he and other top ministers in his cabinet will resign to pave the way for a younger generation of politicians.
West Point-educated Hun Manet, 45, will assume the job on Aug. 22.
Wang also said China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Cambodia in a framework that encompasses politics, production capacity, agriculture, energy and security.
Hun Manet said the new Cambodian administration will maintain the continuity and stability of domestic and foreign policies, according to a separate statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. - Bloomberg
