Cambodian Deputy PM Hails China as Strategic Pillar in ASEAN Growth

NANNING, China (Sept.19, 2025) — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth on Monday praised China’s role as a “strategic pillar” in ASEAN’s economic development, calling for deeper integration and shared innovation across the region.

Speaking at the opening of the 22nd China–ASEAN Expo, Vissoth, who also serves as minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, emphasized Cambodia’s commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative and lauded China’s support for infrastructure, trade and digital transformation.

“China is not only a key trading partner but a trusted development ally,” Vissoth said, highlighting joint projects such as expressways, special economic zones and logistics corridors that have accelerated Cambodia’s regional connectivity.

The deputy prime minister also urged ASEAN members to embrace China’s technological leadership and green development strategies, noting that Cambodia’s own digital economy framework aligns closely with Beijing’s vision.

This year’s expo, held under the theme “Work Together for a Harmonious Home and a Shared Future,” drew high-level delegations from across Southeast Asia. Cambodia’s pavilion showcased its agricultural exports, tourism offerings and investment incentives, positioning the kingdom as a gateway to ASEAN.

Vissoth’s remarks underscored Phnom Penh’s strategic tilt toward Beijing amid shifting global dynamics, reinforcing Cambodia’s role as a vocal advocate for China–ASEAN cooperation.

Chinese investors poured approximately $3.6 billion into Cambodia during the first seven months of 2025, accounting for more than half of the country’s total approved investment, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Cambodia and China reached $11 billion over the same period, marking a 26% year-on-year increase, the General Department of Customs and Excise reported.

The figures underscore China’s dominant role in Cambodia’s economic landscape, spanning infrastructure, manufacturing, and consumer goods, amid deepening strategic and commercial ties between the two nations.