China pledges support for Cambodia's changing of the guard in meeting with Hun Sen and son
China is willing to work with Cambodia's new government to build close and high-quality ties, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with the country's next leader, Hun Manet on Sunday.
Wang congratulated the ruling Cambodian People's Party over its "landslide victory" in the country's general election last month, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry.
"An international observer mission with representatives from over 60 countries unanimously agreed that the election was fair, transparent and in accordance with the law, and the results of the election reflected the shared aspirations of the people," Wang said in talks with incoming prime minister Hun Manet and outgoing leader Hun Sen in Phnom Penh.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
"The noise made by some external forces pales in comparison to the people's choice."
Wang said China appreciated the historic contributions made by Hun Sen in building the China-Cambodia relationship and leading the country from chaos to stability, and from poverty to prosperity.
Wang's remarks came as Phnom Penh becomes increasingly reliant on Chinese aid and investment.
China also values Cambodia's strategic significance as an Asean member. Both nations have disputes in the South China Sea.
China was by far Cambodia's biggest trading partner last year, with a trade volume of US$11.6 billion, of which Chinese exports accounted for a staggering 89.38 per cent, according to Cambodia's customs and excise department.
The US has long claimed that Cambodia's Ream naval base had become an overseas outpost for China's military - a charge both Asian countries have denied.
Wang is the first foreign diplomat to visit Cambodia since Hun Sen announced he would step down after 22 years in office, paving the way for his eldest son, Hun Manet, to form a new government on August 22.
China was willing to establish close connections with the new Cambodian government, promote a new era of China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnerships and build "a high-quality, high-level and high standard China-Cambodia community", Wang said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement.
"[China will] firmly support Cambodia to safeguard national interests and national dignity, and firmly support Cambodia to play a greater role in international and regional stages," he said.
In a statement on Sunday, Cambodia's foreign ministry said China supported "Cambodia's sovereignty, emerging government leadership and development path".
Hun Manet expressed gratitude for China's help providing Covid-19 vaccines and in Cambodia's socio-economic development and infrastructure, according to Cambodia's foreign ministry.
China's foreign ministry said Hun Manet reaffirmed his country's willingness to strengthen strategic coordination with China, pledging to promote agriculture, manufacturing, economic and trade investment and cooperation in practical areas such as tourism and education.
According to the Chinese statement, Hun Manet emphasised the government's "unchanging position" on the one-China policy and non-interference in China's internal affairs regarding Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.
Wang met his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn on Sunday to discuss Hun Manet's official visit to Beijing and his participation in the 20th China-Asean Expo and China-Asean Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, and the third Belt and Road Initiative forum.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
