Head of State Diplomacy | Pushing China Cambodia's staunch friendship to a new height on the highway | Cambodia | Friendship

In September, Beijing enters early autumn.

After taking office, Prime Minister Hun Manai chose China as the first country to conduct bilateral visits, which fully reflects the high importance that the new Cambodian government attaches to consolidating and developing China Cambodia friendship.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia and the "China Cambodia Friendship Year". Under the leadership and promotion of the head of state's diplomacy, pragmatic cooperation between China and Cambodia has continuously deepened and deepened. The friendship between the two peoples is profound and firm, and we are working together to usher in a new era of building a high-quality, high-level, and high standard China Cambodia community with a shared future.

Creating a blueprint for peers

This year, both sides have embarked on a new era of building a high-quality, high-level, and high standard China Cambodia community with a shared future. China is willing to work with Cambodia to promote the deepening and implementation of the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work together to create a model for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Prime Minister Hun Manai stated that making China the first official country to visit is to demonstrate that the new Cambodian government will continue to firmly pursue a friendly policy towards China and further promote the steadfast friendship between Cambodia and China.Cambodia is willing to closely cooperate with China in regional and international affairs to push Cambodia China relations to new heights.

On February 7th, an Air China flight carrying 125 passengers landed at Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia and was received with a grand "Watergate Ceremony". Starting from February 6th, China will pilot the resumption of outbound team tourism and "flight+hotel" services to 20 countries including Cambodia.

Those who intersect with their hearts will become distant. Iron hearted friendship has gone through the baptism of time and the test of international changes.

In the face of serious natural disasters and major epidemics, the Chinese and Cambodian people have always stood together, watched and helped each other, and been good neighbors and true friends who take care of each other with courage. They have demonstrated their true feelings through their own actions in times of adversity.

Jin Ping, Director of the Institute of International Relations at the Royal Cambodian Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that after assuming the position of Prime Minister, Hong Manai will continue to be committed to promoting the high-level development of Cambodia China relations. China will continue to play an important role in Cambodia's economic development and improving people's livelihoods. The friendly relationship between the two countries will continue to benefit the people of both countries, promote regional peace and stability, and promote common development and prosperity.

Creating new highlights of cooperation

On November 7, 2022, vehicles lined up at the entrance of the Phnom Penh Expressway in Cambodia. The Jin Gang Expressway connects Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh with the country's largest deep-water port, Sihanouk Port.

As a new highlight of cooperation between the two sides, the construction of these two corridors carries the earnest hope of developing Cambodia's industrial and agricultural centers, and will bring new opportunities for Cambodia's economic development and poverty reduction.

Among them, the "Industrial Development Corridor" jointly promoted by China and Cambodia is centered around Sihanouk Province. Here, Sihanouk Port Special Economic Zone, the landmark project of the "the Belt and Road" jointly built by the two countries, has flourished, attracting more than 170 enterprises to settle in, creating tens of thousands of jobs, becoming an important manufacturing base in Cambodia, and cultivating a large number of professional and technical talents for the local people.

En Sitar, a worker from China invested General Tire Technology Co., Ltd., works in the Xigang Special Zone. She told reporters that her income was good and there were many training opportunities. "Chinese people, like our brothers and sisters, are willing to teach us skills. We can not only improve our Chinese level, but also have many opportunities for self-improvement.".

The two countries are exploring the construction of the "Fish and Rice Corridor" centered around the northwest of Cambodia and the Tonle Sap Lake region. In early May of this year, the expert group of the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences visited the local area to conduct on-site research, focusing on revitalizing the aquatic seed industry, strengthening fishery resource conservation, developing green and low-carbon fish and rice industry clusters, and facilitating the import and export trade system of aquatic products, in order to find the starting point for the next step of deep cooperation between the two sides.

Since the implementation of the China Cambodia Free Trade Agreement over a year ago, many high-quality Cambodian agricultural products have appeared on the dining tables of the Chinese people. With the continuous promotion of the "Fish and Rice Corridor" construction, Chinese consumers will have the opportunity to taste a richer "Cambodian flavor" in the future.

Raise the Sail of Friendship

In the capital city of Phnom Penh, the Cambodian National Stadium, which was built with Chinese assistance, has become a well-known "check-in spot". Two huge herringbone shaped suspension towers resemble the masts of a sailboat, and together with steel cables, they lift the canopy of the grandstand, resembling a sail. The gymnasium is like a giant ship setting sail. Local people say that this is the "ship of friendship" that witnesses the brotherly relationship between Cambodia and China.

On May 5th, the 32nd Southeast Asian Games opened at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

In May and June of this year, Cambodia hosted the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and the 12th ASEAN Paralympic Games, and the "Ship of Friendship" has witnessed exciting moments as the main venue.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of the two international competitions, Liu Yong, the head of the maintenance and operation team of China Construction Project, and his colleagues have been stationed at the stadium, carrying out comprehensive maintenance of water supply, power supply, fire equipment, monitoring systems, air conditioning systems, and conducting multiple training sessions for local staff. "Through the training of these two events' guarantee work, with our support, local employees have accumulated rich experience and the ability to independently undertake stadium maintenance work." Liu Yong said.

This is the starting point of the construction of the Jinba Expressway, which was filmed on June 5th in Kandal Province, Cambodia.

The completion of the Golden Harbor Expressway, the landmark project of the "the Belt and Road" jointly built by China and Cambodia, has improved the investment convenience, driven the development of local industries, and played an important role in the sustainable development of Cambodia's economy and society; The construction of Cambodia's second expressway, the Jinba Expressway, invested and constructed by Chinese enterprises, has also begun; The construction and operation of the Sanghe II hydropower station by Chinese enterprises have "illuminated" the lives of local people and injected green energy into local development... The paths of friendship and prosperity will continue to benefit the Cambodian people.

Together for a bright future

One day in August of this year, in the province of Pol ô te d'Ivoire, Cambodia, Nu Ben, who had suffered from cataracts for over a decade, reached for a chair with the help of volunteers and his family. After carefully examining the 75 year old man, Chinese doctors performed the surgery on the same day.

"The first thing I saw was the Chinese national flag!" The old man recalled to Xinhua News Agency reporters the thrilling moment of removing the gauze after surgery. At that time, he clasped his hands together and repeatedly thanked the Chinese doctor, "Thank you for helping me see this world again."

During more than 40 days in the local area, members of the Guangxi medical team of the third batch of aid to Cambodia to eliminate blindness caused by cataracts overcame multiple difficulties and performed an average of dozens of surgeries per day, bringing light to local eye disease patients. On September 9th, as the captain, Zhong Shan had just returned from Cambodia and was busy imparting his experience to the fourth batch of medical teams preparing to depart.

On March 15, 2019, at Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital in Cambodia, patient Sun Meile, who was about to undergo cataract surgery, received a kiss and blessing from her daughter. After undergoing cataract free consultation surgery by the Chinese medical team, her vision gradually recovered and her life gained new brightness and hope.

The implementation of the China Cambodia Friendship Poverty Alleviation Demonstration Village Project over the past two years has brought many welcome changes to Dalong Village in Bati County, Chajiao Province. Village Chief Nodu told Xinhua News Agency reporters that this small village with 125 households and over 500 people used to be the poorest nearby village, and many villagers had to rely on working outside to make a living. Nowadays, the village has built cement roads, erected solar street lights, and everyone has access to clean water, giving them more hope for life. There are fewer people going out to work, and more people staying locally to start businesses.

With the support of a pilot project funded by the Chinese side, a 37 year old villager named Shun Songtui received training in poultry farming, built his own chicken farm, and lifted himself out of poverty. In his view, the China Cambodia Friendship Poverty Alleviation Demonstration Village Project has improved the appearance of the village, provided entrepreneurial opportunities for villagers, and brought us hope.

On May 27th, actors performed at the Jeolla Opera House in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

On the road to common development, the cultural exchanges between the two peoples are also deepening day by day.

The rich and diverse activities such as the "Colorful China · China Cambodia Friendship Year" cultural performance and the China Cambodia Economic, Trade, Investment and Tourism Forum are writing a new chapter in the story of friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Standing at a new starting point in bilateral relations, China and Cambodia will continue to sail the ship of friendship and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia.

Chief Photographer: Huang Jingwen, Wu Changwei, Zhu Wei, Li Lai, Suo, Wan, Na, La, Wan, Po, Pi, Long

Produced by the International Department of Xinhua News Agency