Analysis: Hun Manet’s Rise on the Global Stage Marks Strategic Shift Toward Economic Diplomacy

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Geopolitical and international affairs experts say Prime Minister Hun Manet’s growing prominence on the global diplomatic stage signals Cambodia’s strategic pivot toward economic diplomacy. The government is increasingly focused on expanding the country’s participation in international economic integration, particularly with global superpowers.

Now in his second year as prime minister, Hun Manet has held numerous bilateral meetings with world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron and, most recently, a diplomatic letter exchange with former U.S. President Donald Trump. These efforts aim to strengthen diplomatic ties, enhance Cambodia’s economic potential and attract foreign investment.

Hun Manet has also actively participated in major international summits and events across Asia and beyond, including in China, Japan and Singapore. Analysts view his consistent presence on the global stage as a sign of Cambodia’s maturing diplomacy and a step toward raising its international visibility and influence.

At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus Summit in Tianjin, China, Hun Manet appeared at the center of the official group photo alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The image circulated widely and was interpreted as a symbolic gesture of Cambodia’s rising diplomatic stature.

“This is a positive signal showing Cambodia’s importance to the host country, China,” said Vannarith Chheang, founder and chairman of the Angkor Social Innovation Park.

He emphasized that the seventh-mandate Royal Government, led by Hun Manet, prioritizes economic diplomacy and believes economics should drive politics — rather than conflict with neighboring countries or international powers.

Commenting on Hun Manet’s diplomatic exchange with Trump, Chheang said it reflects a positive development in U.S.-Cambodia relations and could help build a more resilient partnership for mutual benefit.

“This is a new style of engagement — leadership engagement,” he said. “Regime legitimacy depends heavily on the quality of governance and economic opportunity. Naturally, China is Cambodia’s closest partner, but that does not come at the expense of good relations with other countries. We are friends to all, enemies to none.”

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said Hun Manet’s central placement among global leaders at the summit reflects significant diplomatic recognition and respect for Cambodia.

“Since becoming prime minister in 2023, Hun Manet has steered Cambodia toward prosperity, stability and peace, with a focus on governance reform and economic integration within regional frameworks such as ASEAN and RCEP,” Mengdavid said.

Mengdavid added that economic diplomacy has become a cornerstone of Cambodia’s foreign policy, helping to boost the national economy, improve livelihoods, strengthen international cooperation and diversify the country’s industrial and trade sectors.

Mengdavid also noted that economic diplomacy plays a vital role in enhancing Cambodia’s resilience to external shocks, enabling a transition from traditional industries to a modern, diversified industrial base.