As President Xi Jinping travels to the country on Thursday ( Apr 17 ) at the conclusion of a three-nation trip in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is betting on more financial support from China, including for infrastructure, according to a Cambodian government spokesman.
Phnom Penh is the region’s largest borrower and a nearby lover of China, which has invested billions of dollars in tasks like highways and flights.
On the day of Xi’s appearance in Phnom Penh, Meas Soksensan, a spokeswoman for the Thai finance department, told Reuters,” We anticipate more assistance, including on network development.”
He was questioned about whether Cambodia anticipated Beijing’s announcement to support the country’s most optimistic infrastructure project, which is a 180 km canal.
Xi made his first appearance in Phnom Penh on Thursday, where King Norodom Sihamoni greeted him during a military meeting.
According to an established routine seen by AFP, he may visit the house on Thursday evening before meeting with former innovator Hun Sen and his child, Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Xi reaffirmed messages he sent earlier this week to Vietnam and Malaysia in the first two feet of his journey by writing in an essay published on Thursday morning on Thai internet that were published on the country’s advertising.
Southeast Asian nations have experienced severe damage from “reciprocal” taxes imposed by US President Donald Trump. Cambodia exports a lot of clothing and footwear to the US, and it received a level of 49 , per share, one of the highest rates globally, before most jobs were put on hold until July.
Xi, who has a street in his name on the outskirts of the capital, cited previous Chinese infrastructure projects that helped the local market, but did not mention any new, more distinct projects in his post.
The Thai government has stated that China would foot the bill for the Funan Techo Canal, which had run from a blog close to Phnom Penh to the coast on the Gulf of Thailand, divert water from the delicate Mekong Delta and reduce Thai shipping through Taiwanese ports.
China has so far not pledged any public funds to the project, while Phnom Penh has changed its claims on Chinese involvement, which are estimated to be covering 49 % of total expenses, or roughly 4 % of Cambodia’s monthly gross domestic product, to 4 percent.