Xi meets Cambodian prime minister on relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in China's port city of Tianjin on Saturday.

The Cambodian prime minister arrived in Tianjin earlier in the day to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025.

During their meeting, Xi said that China-Cambodia friendship, having stood the test of time, is rock-solid and the shared asset of the two peoples.

Xi noted that in the face of a changing international situation, China and Cambodia, as iron-clad friends, should keep the big picture in mind, adopt a long-term perspective, and steadfastly follow the path of friendship opened by the older generation of Chinese and Cambodian leaders.

The Chinese president called on both sides to unite closely for mutual success, improve the well-being of both peoples, and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi stressed that China supports Cambodia in safeguarding national stability, upholding independence and self-reliance, and achieving revitalization and development.

Xi expressed China's willingness to leverage the role of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee to deepen the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation, advance construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor", and expand trade cooperation to enhance Cambodia's capacity for self-sustained growth.

He also called for intensified joint efforts to crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, ensuring the safety of lives and property of the people of both nations.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Hun Manet said the Chinese people forged peace with courage and unity, which is truly admirable.

He reaffirmed Cambodia's enduring friendship with China and expressed gratitude for China's long-standing support and assistance.

No matter how the international situation evolves, Cambodia will steadfastly pursue a friendly policy toward China, uphold the one-China principle, and firmly support the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by China, said the prime minister.

He highlighted the historic state visit by President Xi to Cambodia in April this year, which yielded rich outcomes. He said Cambodia looks forward to working with China to implement the important consensus reached during that visit, deepen their ironclad friendship, and lend each other support on issues involving their core interests and major concerns.

The Cambodian side is ready to expand cooperation with China in trade, investment and infrastructure, and jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, so as to advance the building of an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future.

Xi meets Cambodian prime minister on relations

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media