Phnom Penh, Cambodia – During a significant bilateral meeting, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet conveyed to his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to the One-China policy. This commitment explicitly includes recognizing Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang as integral internal affairs of China.
The Cambodian head of government articulated this steadfast position during a working meeting with Premier Li Qiang. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Conference on Artificial Intelligence in China, held on July 16. This reaffirmation underscores the deep-rooted strategic partnership between the two nations.
Prime Minister Hun Manet further emphasized the growing strength of Cambodia-China relations, characterizing the two countries as ‘all-weather’ strategic partners and ‘steel friends.’ He highlighted the ongoing collaboration aimed at collectively building a ‘Cambodian-Chinese common destiny community in all seasons in the new era,’ reflecting a shared vision for future prosperity and stability.
From the Chinese side, Premier Li Qiang affirmed China’s high regard for its relationship with Cambodia, designating it as a top priority in Chinese diplomacy. According to Premier Li, the frequent exchange of high-level visits and active dialogues across various sectors and levels between the two nations serve as clear indicators of the robust relationship and the continuous advancement of their comprehensive cooperation.
“China and Cambodia share exceptionally close ties and are truly ‘steel friends’,” Premier Li Qiang stressed. He added that both countries are committed to continuing their mutual cooperation and support to foster their respective modernization goals and to collectively address global uncertainties.
Throughout their productive meeting, the two heads of government engaged in extensive discussions and exchanged perspectives on a multitude of initiatives and strategic directions. These discussions aimed to further bolster and expand cooperation across key areas, including political and diplomatic relations, economic and commercial ties, interconnected infrastructure projects, green energy initiatives, agriculture, defense and security, as well as crucial person-to-person exchanges, particularly in tourism and education.
Taking the opportunity during the discussions, the Cambodian Prime Minister also provided his Chinese counterpart with an update on the recent developments regarding the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border. He reiterated Cambodia’s firm commitment and principled stance on resolving all border issues peacefully, strictly adhering to international law, and in full accordance with existing conventions, treaties, and agreements established between Cambodia and Thailand.
