Cambodia and China agreed to expand their “2+2” dialogue into “3+3”, including Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior and China’s Ministry of Public Security, in response to growing bilateral cooperation and changing regional and international circumstances.
According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the agreement was reached at the first Cambodia-China “2+2” Strategic Dialogue between foreign and defence ministers in Phnom Penh on April 22. Cambodia was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Seiha; China was led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defence Minister Dong Jun.
The ministry described the inaugural dialogue as an important milestone reflecting a shared commitment to strategic coordination and an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era.
Both sides welcomed what they described as the clear, purposeful and ambitious development of their comprehensive strategic partnership, demonstrating growing resilience and maturity. They reaffirmed an “ironclad friendship” based on mutual respect, trust and support for each other’s core interests. Cambodia firmly supported the Belt and Road Initiative and Xi Jinping’s four global initiatives on development, security, civilisation and governance. The sides also exchanged views on political, security, economic, regional and international issues.
They emphasised the importance of maintaining high-level visits, strengthening institutional links and improving coordination among ministries and agencies of both countries. They agreed that the “2+2” mechanism would serve as an important platform for deeper strategic ties, closer policy coordination and joint responses to emerging domestic, regional and global challenges.
Looking ahead, they agreed to deepen practical cooperation in traditional and emerging sectors, including digital transformation, green development, the blue economy, connectivity, resilient supply chains, financial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides reaffirmed commitments to advance major frameworks including the Diamond Cooperation Framework, the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, aiming for concrete and mutually beneficial results for the two countries and their peoples.
They further reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership to support the prosperity of both countries as well as peace, stability and development regionally and globally.
By ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
