Column: Xi's state visit strengthens China-Cambodia cooperation for regional prosperity

PHNOM PENH -- President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Cambodia represents a milestone moment in bilateral relations, ushering in the all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era.

This strengthened cooperation stands as a global model of equitable international partnership.

Forged through strategic alignment and mutual trust, this partnership counters hegemonic unilateralism, offering a robust paradigm for regional stability, economic resilience and inclusive prosperity in a multipolar world.

The visit yielded multiple bilateral cooperation documents, epitomizing the seamless integration of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy.

Over the past years, China-Cambodia cooperation has already yielded fruitful results. The Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone (SSEZ), a flagship BRI project, hosts over 200 enterprises, generating tens of thousands of jobs and establishing Cambodia as a manufacturing hub.

Emerging projects, such as the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, synergize Cambodia's industrial modernization and agricultural productivity with China's technological expertise and financial resources, fostering sustainable development and fortifying economic resilience.

The China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) significantly boosts Cambodia's exports, including rice, mangoes and bananas.

Infrastructure projects, such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway and the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, will enhance Cambodia's connectivity, positioning it as an important node in regional logistics and tourism networks.

These developments can help Cambodia better weather global economic disruptions.

Meanwhile, through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Cambodia accesses markets in Japan, South Korea and Australia, capitalizing on flexible rules of origin to export high-value goods like garments and footwear.

The synergistic convergence of the CCFTA, RCEP and BRI establishes Cambodia as an important part in Southeast Asia's supply chain ecosystem. The CCFTA drives demand in the Chinese market, RCEP diversifies export destinations and the BRI infrastructure — exemplified by the SSEZ and planned corridors — streamlines logistics, embedding Cambodia in the just-in-time supply chains important to global trade.

The Fish and Rice Corridor strengthens food security and attracts investment from RCEP partners, enhancing Cambodia's agricultural competitiveness.

This triad, resonant with the historical Maritime Silk Road, revitalizes Cambodia's legacy as a trade nexus, drawing multinational firms seeking alternatives to tariff-burdened markets.

Beyond its economic contributions, Cambodia emerges as a major conduit for ASEAN-China collaboration, amplifying regional cohesion and stability.

By facilitating high-level dialogues, Cambodia bridges ASEAN and China, promoting a vision of open regionalism rooted in mutual respect and shared prosperity.

Cambodia's resolute support for the one-China principle and its opposition to external interference uphold ASEAN's foundational principle of non-interference in another's internal affairs, fostering a stable regional environment through platforms like the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism.

Meanwhile, the designation of 2025 as the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism and collaborative efforts to preserve Angkor's cultural heritage foster people-to-people ties.

The Cambodia-China partnership transcends bilateral ties, offering a replicable model for nations seeking to balance sovereignty with global integration.

As Cambodia advances toward upper middle-income status by 2030 and high-income status by 2050, the shared-future paradigm illuminates a pathway for inclusive globalization that prioritizes equity and sustainability.

The outcomes of Xi's visit — ranging from trade agreements to cultural initiatives — equip Cambodia with the tools to enhance its state capacity, foster inclusive growth and contribute to regional stability.

In an era defined by multipolar contestation and economic uncertainty, Cambodia's strategic cooperation with China not only safeguards its national sovereignty but also propels ASEAN's emergence as a unified and resilient force.

This partnership, enriched by historical depth and forward-looking vision, redefines the contours of international cooperation, demonstrating that mutual benefit and collective progress can prevail over division and rivalry.

By contributing to Southeast Asia's economic and political architecture, the Cambodia-China cooperation heralds a transformative vision for global equity, resilience and prosperity, setting a radiant example for the Global South and beyond.

Editor's note: Neak Chandarith is the founding director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center of the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.