November 13th, 2022

(From chinareport.com, Correspondent Li Chuanjun) Amid the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia and the APEC Meetings in Thailand, a delegation led by Xiao Wunan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation (APECF) and Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Strategic Dialogue Organizing Committee (APSDOC), and Ge Fen, Executive Deputy Secretary General of the APSDOC, were invited by the governments of Thailand and Cambodia to visit Bangkok and Phnom Penh on November 7. The delegation held extensive discussions with various parties on advancing cooperation under frameworks such as China-ASEAN collaboration, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), yielding substantial outcomes. Additionally, they inaugurated the Phnom Penh Representative Office of the Asia-Pacific Strategic Dialogue Committee.

Cambodia has long been a pivotal node in China-ASEAN cooperation. On the afternoon of November 9, during the ASEAN Summit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held a bilateral meeting with the visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Together, they witnessed the signing of 18 cooperation documents and 3 key deliverables, including agreements on agricultural trade, investment, quarantine, and animal vaccines. This marks unprecedented progress in China-Cambodia agricultural collaboration. The APECF has consistently facilitated cooperation between China and Cambodia in agricultural planting, breeding, processing, storage, logistics, and trade. Building on prior consensus with the Cambodian government, its embassy in China, and relevant institutions, this visit aimed to advance practical solutions to long-standing challenges in Cambodia’s agricultural development. Through consultations, the parties jointly initiated a comprehensive agricultural support project and established an integrated service system to address these bottlenecks.

During the visit, the APECF and the APSDOC signed multiple cooperation agreements with entities including the Cambodia-China Relations Committee, Anhua Haotong Energy (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Zhujiang Investment & Construction Co., Ltd., and China Construction Midland (Cambodia) Co. Ltd., covering agriculture, infrastructure, and energy.

Since last year, the "Asia Pacific Strategic Dialogue" has focused on Indo-Pacific strategy issues, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation among ASEAN nations. It also strengthens high-level collaboration between ASEAN and China, avoiding ASEAN’s dilemma of "choosing sides" by advancing the "people-to-people bonds" and "community with a shared future" concepts. This supports the Belt and Road Initiative’s implementation across participating countries. Against this backdrop, and at the invitation of the Cambodian government, the APSDOC established its Phnom Penh Representative Office. On November 10, 2022, Xiao Wunan led the delegation to hold the unveiling ceremony, attended and witnessed by the Cambodian government, social organizations, media, and heads of relevant institutions.

Prior to visiting Phnom Penh, the delegation traveled to Bangkok at the Thai government’s invitation. During the visit, they held talks with Korn Dabbaransi, President of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, exploring new mechanisms and prospects for China-Thailand cooperation in the post-pandemic era and reaching broad consensus.

Executive Editor: Li Chuanjun