Xi Jinping Speaks with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on the Phone

On the afternoon of March 18, 2022, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Xi Jinping pointed out, with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Cambodia relations have withstood tests and grown even more unbreakable. In the face of major global changes and the pandemic, both unseen in a century, China and Cambodia have firmly promoted the building of a community with a shared future, setting an example of forging a new type of international relations. The two sides should engage in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up the construction of major projects such as highways, airports and special economic zones, and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as finance and digital economy. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia free trade agreement should be fully tapped to push bilateral trade to a new level. The Chinese side will import more premium agricultural products from Cambodia, carry out more cooperation with Cambodia to improve people's wellbeing, and implement projects related to roads and education in rural areas, so as to help develop agriculture in Cambodia and lift its farmers out of poverty. China will continue to support Cambodia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and explore new models of people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Cambodia against the backdrop of the pandemic.

Xi Jinping stressed, China firmly supports the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the regional cooperation architecture, and supports ASEAN in playing a greater role in regional and international affairs. China supports Cambodia in carrying out its duty as the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, and stands ready to work with Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to push for the continuous new development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership.

Hun Sen sincerely congratulated China on the successful hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and the successful convening of the Two Sessions, and believes that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will make more great achievements. The rapid growth of Cambodia-China bilateral trade and the smooth progress of major projects under the framework of Belt and Road cooperation have demonstrated the achievements of the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future, and shown that Cambodia and China are true ironclad brothers. Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports China's position on issues related to Taiwan and Xinjiang. Cambodia is ready to take the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year as an opportunity to deepen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, agriculture, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and advance the Belt and Road cooperation, so as to lift the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. Cambodia thanks China for providing material supplies, vaccines and other assistance for Cambodia to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and hopes for stronger anti-pandemic cooperation. As the rotating chair of ASEAN this year, Cambodia will continue to actively promote the development of ASEAN-China relations.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. The two sides agreed to uphold a balanced and fair position and make positive efforts to promote peace talks.