Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defence Minister Dong Jun officially arrived in Cambodia on the afternoon of April 22. That evening, they were due to hold the first Cambodia–China 2+2 strategic dialogue with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha.
This was to be the first joint dialogue between the countries’ foreign and defence ministers under the mechanism. The report describes it as an unprecedented period of more frequent cooperation between Cambodia and China.
The report says the meeting would directly address security issues, focusing on practical defence and security cooperation, particularly closer coordination against human trafficking, drug offences and telecom and cybercrime. It anticipates more direct and stronger joint action in the future against grey-market businesses and to protect public safety.
During the visit, Wang Yi and Dong Jun were also scheduled to pay separate courtesy calls on Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet. In its same-day arrival report, Cambodia’s state news agency AKP separately said Wang Yi would pay an official visit to Cambodia on April 23, following the 2+2 dialogue. The KPS99TV report describes the two ministers’ simultaneous visit as a high-level arrangement, reflecting ironclad friendship and the countries’ wish to further develop strategic coordination in politics, military affairs and diplomacy.
