China and Cambodia share a deep-rooted bilateral relationship that stretches back decades, while the two countries remain committed to jointly addressing regional and global challenges, according to a Cambodian international relations expert.
The two sides first established formal diplomatic ties in 1958, and have enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges which have reinforced their strategic political trust, solidified a longstanding friendship and fostered mutual benefits.
Relations between the two countries are in the spotlight as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Thursday to begin a two-day state visit at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.
The close China-Cambodia connection goes back to King Sihamoni's father, the late King Norodom Sihanouk. He had lived in exile in the historical Dong Jiao Min Alley, part of the old Legation Quarter in Beijing, before heading home to lead his country to independence. He later returned to spend his final years at this location considering it as his second home, before he passed away in the Chinese capital at the age of 89 in 2012.
Kin Phea, director general of International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted how this important history has laid the foundations for the ties between the two countries.
"The monarchy is very important in stabilizing our bilateral relationship. Governments may change, but the monarchy, the king is there. The most important figure in Cambodia was our late king, who laid very solid foundation for our bilateral relations," he said.
Looking ahead to possible outcomes from Xi's current visit to Cambodia, which marks his first to the country in nine years, Phea said he expects deeper cooperation across multiple fields.
"It also highlights the solidarity between the two countries and our commitment to address the regional and global challenges we face together. China has become an engine of global growth [which] protects multilateralism in trade, in governance, and development, particularly inclusive prosperity," he said.
China, Cambodia share strong legacy of diplomatic ties: expert
