Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Cambodia in April for a state visit, announced Khy Sovanratana, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,
Representing Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Sovanratana emphasized that Cambodia-China relations have been cultivated over generations and continue to evolve into an “ironclad friendship” based on “win-win cooperation, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs.”
The China-Cambodia economic partnership is experiencing significant growth, driven by robust trade, strategic investments, and emerging opportunities. This collaboration is not only enhancing bilateral economic ties but also paving the way for sustainable development and mutual prosperity.

China-Cambodia trade has continued to expand significantly, driven by regional and bilateral free trade agreements. According to Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), bilateral trade volume reached US$4.48 billion in the first four months of 2024, marking a 15.1 percent increase from US$3.89 billion in the same period last year. China remains Cambodia’s top trading partner, ahead of Vietnam, the United States (the US), Thailand, and Japan.
Penn Sovicheat, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia, credited the growth to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), both of which took effect in 2022. These agreements have facilitated the export of high-quality Cambodian agricultural products—such as milled rice, yellow bananas, mangoes, longans, cassava, and pepper—to China under preferential tariffs. Additionally, trade promotion events, including expos and business forums, have further strengthened bilateral economic ties.

Between January and November 2024, China-Cambodia trade soared by 24 percent compared to the same period in 2023, reaching nearly US$14 billion. GDCE data indicates that Cambodian exports to China totaled US$1.6 billion (+22.3 percent), while Cambodian imports from China amounted to US$12.15 billion (+24.5 percent).
At the same time, Cambodia’s Royal Government has outlined an ambitious economic development strategy, aiming to transition from a least developed country (LDC) to a middle-income country by 2030 and achieve high-income status by 2050. In this context, China’s vast market and strong purchasing power play a crucial role in Cambodia’s growth.
Cambodia’s trade position has also benefited from shifting global trade dynamics, particularly US-China trade tensions. These tensions have encouraged Chinese companies to relocate their investments from China to nearby countries including Cambodia, leveraging Cambodia’s preferential tariffs for US exports, while reinforcing Cambodia’s position as a key beneficiary of China’s economic policies.
Source: China Global South
