Cambodia, China agree on BRI-PS synergy to unlock new opportunities

Prak Sokhonn (second left), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, holds discussions with Wang Yi (second right), Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Beijing, on June 26. Sun Chanthol (left), Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, and Wang Wenbin (right), Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, were present on the occasion. MFAIC

Synopsis: Both sides underscore the importance of aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the Pentagonal Strategy to promote long-term, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Cambodia and China Friday agreed to align the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the Pentagonal Strategy (PS), aiming to unlock new opportunities in infrastructure, industry, agriculture, digital technology and human resource development while further strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.

A discussion to the effect took place on the sidelines of President of the Senate Hun Sen’s official visit to China from June 25 to 27.

Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, held talks with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.

Chanthol and Wang Yi also serve as co-chairs of the Cambodia-China Inter-Governmental Coordination Committee. Key participants included Soeung Rathchavy, Cambodian Ambassador to China, Wang Wenbin, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, and Kong Vimean, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of CDC.

In the course of the meeting, Cambodia and China reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening political trust and expanding economic cooperation, emphasising the importance of enhancing strategic coordination under existing bilateral mechanisms.

According to Chanthol, the two sides underscored the importance of aligning China’s BRI with Cambodia’s PS, which is designed to promote long-term, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The alignment is expected to create new momentum for cooperation in priority sectors, including physical infrastructure development, industrial expansion, agricultural modernisation, digital transformation and human resource development.

Both parties expressed the view that closer policy synergy between the two frameworks would generate new high-potential opportunities and further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Cambodia and China.

The discussion also highlighted the role of continued high-level exchanges in maintaining strong bilateral relations and ensuring the effective implementation of agreed cooperation frameworks for mutual benefit and shared development goals.

Based on the MFAIC announcement, Sokhonn also commended the resounding success of the first Cambodia-China 2+2 Strategic Dialogue held in Phnom Penh on April 22.

Looking ahead, Cambodia remains fully committed to working closely with China to further broaden the bilateral ties, strengthen the ironclad friendship, and advance mutual benefits for both peoples, read the statement.

According to Gua Jiakun, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi said that China will always remain Cambodia’s solid strategic anchor, reliable cooperative partner and ironclad friend with a shared destiny.

Posting on his official Facebook account, Ambassador Wang wrote, “China is willing to deepen cooperation with Cambodia in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, clean energy, digital economy and artificial intelligence.”

He added that the two sides should continue creating a favourable and secure environment for bilateral cooperation, and ensure the friendship between the two countries is passed down from generation to generation.

-Khmer Times-
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