Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the 17th (local time) and shook hands with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cambodia on the 17th (local time) to begin his state visit.
According to China's Xinhua News Agency and others, President Xi entered Phnom Penh International Airport on the day via a dedicated China International Airlines plane. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and former Prime Minister Hun Sen (currently the Chairman of the Senate) personally came to the airport to welcome President Xi.
After his arrival, President Xi issued a statement saying, "Cambodia is a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy," and added, "China will firmly support Cambodia in safeguarding its autonomy and pursuing a development path suited to its national circumstances."
The first schedule is a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni. Afterwards, he will hold talks with former Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet, father and son, to explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. In particular, they will discuss joint responses to the tariff policies of the Donald Trump administration in the United States. Cambodia mainly exports clothing and footwear to the U.S., and the Trump administration's tariff policy has announced a 49% reciprocal tariff imposition.
Cambodia is anticipating financial support from China. Cambodia is currently promoting a construction project to connect about 180 km by waterway from the capital Phnom Penh to the southern Kep Province's Gulf of Thailand. This large-scale project, costing 1.7 billion dollars (approximately 2.4 trillion won), hopes for China's contribution, but China has not officially committed yet.
Meanwhile, President Xi began his Southeast Asia tour starting with a visit to Vietnam on the 14th. He visited Malaysia on the 15th, and his schedule will conclude in Cambodia on the 18th.
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