China and Cambodia establish a cooperative model for nations of varying scales, as per Xi's assertion.
Rewritten Article:
Chinese President Xi Jinping received the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on April 17, 2025. This prestigious honor was bestowed upon Xi following a series of bilateral agreements signed between the two nations during his state visit.
In a sign of their ongoing strategic partnership, China and Cambodia agreed on 37 new accords, covering sectors such as infrastructure, education, public technology, and security cooperation. Both leaders pledged to work together to solidify their "community with a shared future," a term denoting their alignment on key geopolitical and economic priorities.
One tangible outcome of their collaboration is the Funan Techo Canal project, linking Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand. This ambitious $1.7 billion initiative, which aims to boost economic integration, will be run by a joint venture, with a 51% Cambodian, 49% Chinese ownership. This move underscores China's commitment to invest in Southeast Asian infrastructure projects.
Enhanced security cooperation is also among the priorities for these countries. As part of this endeavor, Cambodia has made strides in combating cybercrime and law enforcement activities, most notably by deporting 180 Taiwanese fraud suspects to mainland China in advance of Xi's visit. The nations also announced plans for expanded military exchanges and the establishment of a "2+2" dialogue mechanism, which involves discussions between foreign and defense ministers.
Prime Minister Hun Manet, however, is walking a diplomatic tightrope in maintaining cordial relations with China while diversifying Cambodia's foreign relations. In pursuit of this objective, Phnom Penh has boosted engagement with the U.S. Congress and European partners and has attracted significant foreign direct investment (FDI) from South Korea, Japan, and other Southeast Asian neighbors, totaling $8.1 billion between 2023 and 2024.
As a crucial component of China's broader Southeast Asia strategy, Cambodia serves as something of a test case. By offering an example of infrastructure investment, political alignment, and security coordination, the Cambodia-China partnership potentially showcases a blueprint for the region, although it remains to be seen how other nations will react and navigate the growing U.S.-China tensions while preserving their autonomy.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his visit to Cambodia in 2025, was warmly welcomed with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, a testament to the deep appreciation of Cambodia's political alliance with China.
- Despite the strengthening China-Cambodia partnership, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is skillfully managing diplomatic relations, not only with China but also with the U.S. Congress, European partners, South Korea, Japan, and other Southeast Asian neighbors, reflecting Cambodia's commitment to diversify its foreign relations.
- The Chinese and Cambodian leaders, in their recent meetings, pledged to deepen their cooperation, especially in sectors like infrastructure, education, public technology, and security. This partnership, symbolized by the joint ownership of the Funan Techo Canal project, demonstrates China's dedication to investing in Southeast Asian infrastructure projects and aligning with key geopolitical and economic priorities.
