On April 17, on a state visit to Cambodia in Phnom Penh, President Xi Jinping published a signed article entitled "Two-way trips and mutual achievements to promote the construction of a community with a shared future in Cambodia in the new era." People from all walks of life in China and Cambodia who were interviewed by our reporter said that President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cambodia again after nine years has pointed out the direction and injected confidence in China-Cambodia cooperation in various fields, and will lead to greater progress in the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia and make new and greater contributions to regional peace, development and prosperity.

"The construction of Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era demonstrates the value of the times"

In his signed article, President Xi Jinping profoundly summarized the connotation of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future - "Good neighborliness and friendship is the historical background of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future", "Adhere to affection and righteousness is the distinctive feature of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future", "Equality and mutual benefit are the powerful driving force of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future", and "Inclusiveness and mutual learning are the profound foundation of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future".

"President Xi Jinping's visit has brought us the blessings of Cambodia's traditional New Year." An Jia, editor-in-chief of Cambodia's China Daily, said that Cambodia's development cannot be separated from China's support and help. "The Cambodian people always remember and thank China for their contributions to Cambodia's development. They hope that the two countries will deepen their friendship and hope that Cambodia-China cooperation will help Cambodia realize its dream of prosperity and strength."

Aisano, Chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, said: "President Xi Jinping affirmed the efforts and achievements of Cambodia-China friendly cooperation, which moved me. Close cooperation between the two countries will make important contributions to regional peaceful development."

"Cambodia-China's iron-core friendship has a long history and is based on long-term mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual cooperation." Xie Moniler, director of the Project Planning Department of the Cambodian Civil Society Organization Alliance Forum, said that Cambodia and China have frequent high-level visits in recent years, reflecting their high attention to the development of bilateral relations. President Xi Jinping's visit will expand the breadth of cooperation between the two countries, promote the upgrading of cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other fields of the two countries, and promote bilateral relations to a new level.

Sosyala, the first vice chairman of the Cambodian People's Party Central Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Cambodia firmly supports China on issues involving China's core interests, and looks forward to the two countries continuing to maintain high-level exchanges and interactions, strengthening cooperation in safeguarding regional security, promoting economic and trade development, and improving global governance.

Cambodia is the first country to sign an action plan with China to build a community with a shared future. In 2023, the two sides will usher in a new era of building a community of shared future for China and Cambodia with high quality, high level and high standards. "The construction of Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era demonstrates the value of the times and sets an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind." Bin Soviji, State Secretary and Spokesperson of the Cambodia Ministry of Commerce, said that the CCP maintains peace, seeks common development, and creates prosperity together will inject more stability and certainty into the world intertwined with chaoticism.

"The roads and bridges built by Chinese enterprises have become part of the lives of Cambodian people."

"China-Cambodia's 'Diamond Six-Side' cooperation has promoted Cambodia's development." President Xi Jinping affirmed the achievements of China-Cambodia's practical cooperation in his signed article, including the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, and Cambodia's first expressway, which has greatly encouraged relevant people from both countries.

Wang Tongzhou, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Communications Construction Group, said that the first expressway and the first cross-ridge viaduct mentioned by President Xi Jinping are all built by China Road and Bridges under China Communications Construction Group. "We are very excited and will continue to do a good job in landmark projects and 'small and beautiful' people' livelihood projects to contribute to the hard-core friendship between China and Cambodia."

Zhong Yaohui, Secretary-General of the Cambodia Chinese Council, said that China sincerely provides assistance to Cambodia's development, helping Cambodia improve infrastructure construction and improve education and medical standards. "The roads and bridges built by Chinese enterprises have become part of the lives of Cambodian people."

"The Cambodia National Stadium, Jingang Expressway, and Siem Reap Angkor International Airport have been opened one after another, and DeChong International Airport is under construction. The infrastructure built by Chinese companies helping Cambodia have played a huge role in promoting Cambodia's economic and social development." Binsovighi said that the signing and implementation of the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement has driven Cambodia's economic development, and bilateral trade cooperation has continued to deepen.

In his signed article, President Xi Jinping emphasized that "we must expand higher quality mutually beneficial cooperation", which makes people from all walks of life in Cambodia full of expectations for the "Diamond Six-Side" cooperation between Cambodia and China. Xie Weiwa, deputy secretary-general of the Cambodian Civil Service Department, said: "Cambodia regards China as a good neighbor, good brother, good friend and good partner. Cambodia and China's bilateral cooperation has been progressing well as before." In recent years, Cambodia and China's cooperation has gradually expanded to agricultural technology, green development, digital economy, human resources training and other aspects. "Cambodia-China cooperation in emerging fields meets Cambodia's development needs, and we look forward to such cooperation helping Cambodia's long-term development."

Kim Ping, director of the Institute of International Relations of the Royal Cambodian Academy of Sciences, said that in emerging fields such as green energy and scientific and technological innovation, Cambodia-China cooperation has huge potential and broad space. Cambodia can strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as artificial intelligence and big data to promote the rapid development of the science and technology industry. "The two countries can also carry out cooperation in digital infrastructure construction, 'Internet ' and other fields."

In his signed article, President Xi Jinping emphasized that we should adhere to development priority and put people first, give full play to the role of the mechanism of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, promote the docking of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative with Cambodia's "Pentagon Strategy", and deepen the construction of the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish-Rice Corridor". Lin Shiqiang, president of the Cambodian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that strategic docking means opportunities for Chinese-funded enterprises in Cambodia, and I believe that President Xi Jinping's visit will push Cambodia-China mutually beneficial cooperation to a new level.

"I hope that Cambodia-China cooperation will become better and more and more friendship will become deeper and deeper."

From the restoration projects of Zhousa Temple, Chajiao Temple, and Angkor Palace ruins, to tourism and education cooperation, to the implementation of China-Cambodia friendly poverty alleviation demonstration village projects, China-Cambodia cultural exchanges have been deepening and practical. In his signed article, President Xi Jinping emphasized that higher frequency of cultural exchanges should be carried out. Adhere to the principle of unity and harmony, strengthen communication and dialogue between civilizations, deepen exchanges of experience in governing the country, carry out various forms of cooperation in cultural tourism, heritage protection and restoration, youth exchanges, etc., promote people-to-people communication, and jointly promote Asian values ​​and common values ​​of all mankind.

"Cambodia and China have a long history of exchanges." Mohan Badum, issuer of the Khmer Times of Cambodia, said, "In his signed article, President Xi Jinping talked about the trade exchanges through the Maritime Silk Road in Cambodia and China's history. Cambodia and China strengthen cooperation and revitalize this trade path are full of hope."

Cambodia has a long history and unique culture, and the Angkor monument attracts many Chinese tourists to visit. Hong Danni, State Secretary and Spokesperson of the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, said that 2025 is the "Cambodia-China Tourism Year". We look forward to the people of the two countries strengthening exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding through tourism year activities.

Hai Yong, deputy mayor of Siem Reap, Cambodia, said that the Angkor monument is the most famous cultural business card of Siem Reap. Chinese experts have been rooted in Cambodia for nearly 30 years and have undertaken the protection and restoration of the Angkor monument, bringing advanced technology, cultivating professional and skilled talents, and promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between Cambodia and China.

Kim Su, head of the International Exchange Department of Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that learning Chinese is now very popular in Cambodia. Many schools have set up Chinese departments and Chinese courses, and local students actively sign up. "The students love Chinese and are eager to understand China's development. President Xi Jinping's visit has made them very excited. Everyone hopes that Cambodia-China cooperation will become better and deeper and more friendship will become deeper."

"Cambodia-China cultural exchanges have always been booming." Ben Lata, head of Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, Cambodia's State Secretariat, said that he believed that President Xi Jinping's visit will further promote tourism cooperation between Cambodia and China and promote exchanges and mutual learning between the two countries.

(Reporters of this newspaper Zhang Niansheng, Yang Xuebo, Zhao Yipu, Cheng Shijie and Bai Yuanqi participated in the interview and writing)

"People's Daily" (Page 04, April 18, 2025)