PHNOM PENH – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet flaunted warm ties with China, Cambodia’s closest political and economic ally, traveling to Beijing on Thursday for his first overseas trip since taking office last month.
Cambodia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the two leaders will discuss strengthening ties for a common future by building a “Cambodia-China community,” strategic directions for bilateral relations, and regional and international issues.
Cambodia is a key diplomatic partner and supporter of China in regional and international forums and has helped soften criticism of Beijing within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), several of which have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
China exerts a major influence in Cambodia’s politics and economy, which is evident in the many Chinese-funded projects, hotels and casinos in the capital, Phnom Penh, and throughout the country. Chinese state-owned banks have helped finance airports, roads and other infrastructure built with Chinese loans. More than 40 percent of Cambodia’s $10 billion in external debt is owed to China.
Cambodia’s close ties with Beijing were forged by Hun Manet’s father, Hun Sen, who stepped down last month after nearly four decades as prime minister. His Cambodian People’s Party had held onto power through his authoritarian rule and slick political maneuvering that neutered any effective opposition.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Cambodia to reaffirm China’s commitment to the ally, shortly after Prime Minister Hun Sen announced his retirement plans.
Hun Sen’s eldest son, Hun Manet, who served as army commander before succeeding his father, was trained at the US Military Academy at West Point but is widely expected to maintain a distance from Washington.
The United States has expressed disapproval of Hun Sen’s undemocratic actions and is concerned about the expansion of a naval port in the Gulf of Thailand that Cambodia and China began last year. Hun Sen has consistently denied that Cambodia has given China the right to establish its own military base at Ream Naval Base.