Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin. – The Phnom Penh Post
PHNOM PENH: China will support Cambodia in pursuing its own development path and will work to expand the market for Cambodian goods, thereby boosting exports to the Chinese market, according to Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin.
Speaking at the "New Journey of China Reform, New Opportunities for Cambodia-China Cooperation" workshop held at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) on Saturday (Aug 9), Wang emphasised the strong relationship between the two nations, referring to the countries as "ironclad friends" who are committed to a high-quality, high-standard and high-level community of shared future.
"We will open up the market to the Cambodian side to promote bigger exports to the Chinese market and encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to help develop Cambodia. We will promote more projects such as special economic zones [SEZs] in Sihanoukville to enhance our cooperation,” Wang said.
As Cambodia and China celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, they continue to implement this vision.
Wang said that China will also collaborate with Cambodia on exchanging governance experiences, with each country having the freedom to follow its own development path based on its unique circumstances.
"The Chinese side will support Cambodia in pursuing a development path that respects its situation and independence. We will share our reform experiences to foster more positive cooperation in building a shared future for both [nations]," he added.
Wang stressed that China will continue to work with Cambodia on the international stage through a win-win strategy aimed at promoting world peace and prosperity, especially in a time of global challenges.
RAC president Sok Touch noted that Cambodia-China relations have existed for over 2,000 years. He highlighted the many cultural connections between the two countries, such as the shared Mekong River and the integration of Chinese cultural traditions into Cambodian society, exemplified by the use of chopsticks.
Touch added that people often do not realise it, but this cultural acceptance has strengthened the friendship between the two countries.
He also called on Chinese media to help promote Cambodia, especially its tourism sector, with sites like Angkor Wat being central to Cambodian culture.
Touch expressed a desire to see a direct transportation link between Cambodia and China, allowing Cambodian products to be transported directly to China without passing through Vietnam or Thailand as they currently do.
The RAC president hopes that Cambodian culture will reach China more broadly through Chinese media and the expanded publication of Khmer culture and history documents in the Chinese language by the academy. – The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
