During Prime Minister Hun Manet's first visit to China after taking office last year, the two countries signed an action plan (2024-2028) on building a community with a shared future for China and Cambodia in the new era. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin stated in a joint interview with mainstream Cambodian media such as the Cambodia China Times that cooperation in various fields between China and Cambodia will move towards higher quality, higher level, and higher standards. There is great potential for cooperation between the two countries, and the future is promising.

On July 19th, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin gave a joint interview to the Cambodia China Times, Cambodia China Daily, Bayon Television, and Cambodia Times. This was Wang Wenbin's first interview with Cambodian media since taking office.

In response to a question from a reporter from the Cambodia China Times, "This year, China and Cambodia have begun implementing a new version of the Action Plan for Building a Community of Shared Future. What are the key areas and projects for China and Cambodia in the future, and what goals and achievements do they hope to achieve. Wang Wenbin stated that the leaders of China and Cambodia have reached important consensus on building a "Diamond Six Sides" cooperation framework, focusing on the construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor", which has pointed out the direction for promoting cooperation between the two countries in the next step.

He said that China will further strengthen the docking between the "the Belt and Road" initiative and Cambodia's "Five Corners Strategy". On the one hand, we will continue to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as economy and trade, infrastructure, and agriculture, while on the other hand, we will vigorously promote cooperation in emerging fields such as communication, e-commerce, and new energy; Promote the landing of more "high-end" flagship projects in Cambodia, as well as the rooting of more "small but beautiful" livelihood projects in Cambodia; We encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Cambodia and welcome more high-quality Cambodian products to be exported to the Chinese market.

I believe that cooperation between China and Cambodia in various fields will move towards higher quality, higher level, and higher standards. There is great potential for cooperation between our two countries, and the future is promising

When asked about his impression of the strong friendship between China and Cambodia and the foundation of the unbreakable diplomatic relations between the two countries, Wang Wenbin emphasized, "China Cambodia relations are not just ordinary state to state relations. Our two countries have a strong friendship

He said that the iron friendship between China and Cambodia is deeply rooted in the hearts of both countries. When the Chinese people refer to iron friends, they often refer to Pakistan and Cambodia, calling Pakistan "Pakistan Railway" and Cambodia "Cambodia Steel". During his two-week stay in Cambodia, he has deeply felt the Cambodian people's enthusiasm, friendliness, and sincere affection towards China through his contacts with friends from all walks of life in Cambodia.

Wang Wenbin said that mutual trust and support are the most valuable asset, distinctive feature, and significant advantage of the strong friendship between China and Cambodia. We unwaveringly provide each other with firm support on issues involving the core interests and major concerns of both sides. In the process of promoting the development and construction of our respective countries, we spare no effort to provide sincere assistance to each other.

What I want to tell Cambodian friends is that China has always been a trustworthy and reliable true friend of Cambodia. We will continue to show 100% sincerity and make 100% efforts, and work with Cambodian friends to inherit, maintain, and develop the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia, and further promote the strong relationship between China and Cambodia in the new era

In response to how he plans to further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between China and Cambodia during his term, Wang Wenbin said that two weeks ago when he arrived in Cambodia, he gave a brief speech to media friends at the airport. At that time, he expressed that as the new Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, he was willing to work with friends from all walks of life in China and Cambodia to take over the baton of continuing the friendship between the two countries, firmly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and make unremitting efforts to consolidate and deepen the strong friendship between China and Cambodia.

Specifically, I will work with my colleagues to make positive efforts to further strengthen high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields between China and Cambodia, "said Wang Wenbin. At the beginning of this year, Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, visited Cambodia and successfully held the launch ceremony of the" China Cambodia Cultural Exchange Year ". Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Cambodia in April and co chaired the seventh meeting of the China Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee with Vice Premier Sun Zhantuo, achieving positive results. China welcomes King Norodom Sihamoni and Empress Dowager Monile to visit China for physical examination and recuperation at any time, and welcomes Prince Hun Sen, Chairman of the Cambodian Senate, to visit China as soon as possible. Prime Minister Hun Manet will have in-depth communication and exchanges with Chinese leaders at this year's 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting and other occasions.

He stated that in the first half of this year, China's investment in Cambodia accounted for 42% of the total foreign investment absorbed by Cambodia. From January to May this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Cambodia increased by 43% compared to the same period last year.

We need to maintain the good development momentum of cooperation between the two countries in areas such as economy, trade, investment, and tourism. The Sihanouk Port Special Economic Zone invested and built by Chinese enterprises has played a very good role in Cambodia, not only creating many job opportunities, but also training a large number of local workers and helping Cambodia improve the quality of its labor force. This is of great significance for Cambodia's future industrial upgrading and economic development. We need to support the creation of more cooperation projects similar to the Sihanouk Port Special Economic Zone in Cambodia

We also welcome more high-quality Cambodian agricultural products to enter the Chinese market. Last weekend, I visited a supermarket in Phnom Penh and tasted local cashews. I think Cambodian cashews are delicious and have great export potential

He said that this year is the "Year of People to People and Cultural Exchanges between China and Cambodia". The two sides have planned many activities, which were well implemented in the first half of the year. In the second half of the year, they should make persistent efforts to further strengthen the momentum of people to people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, tighten the ties of mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples, and especially further strengthen the communication and exchanges between the youth of China and Cambodia.

With the continuous deepening of cooperation between China and Cambodia, what preparations should Cambodia make? Wang Wenbin replied that the cooperation between China and Cambodia is a cooperation between good friends and true friends.

"In the process of developing relations with Cambodia and promoting cooperation with Cambodia, we have always adhered to mutual respect and equal treatment. China Cambodia cooperation has won the support of the two peoples, and has also experienced the test of international changes. It has strong endogenous momentum and broad prospects for development."

He said that currently, both China and Cambodia are standing at a new starting point for development. China has just successfully convened the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, which further sounded the clarion call for comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese path to modernization. Cambodia is also striving to achieve its goal of becoming a strong country in the middle to high-income category by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. Both sides should seize the opportunity and further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, to make China Cambodia "friendship as iron, unity as steel, and cooperation shining like diamonds".

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