(Xiamen): Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), said China remains an essential and indispensable strategic partner for Cambodia.
His remarks were made in a keynote address at the Future Investment Conference 2026 in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on Tuesday (Sep. 8).
Speaking under the theme "Global Investment for a Changing World," Sun Chanthol said geopolitical tensions, shifting supply chains, digital transformation and green development are reshaping global investment. He underlined that investment should focus on long-term value, resilience, connectivity and shared prosperity rather than short-term gains.
He also highlighted Cambodia's deepening economic integration with ASEAN, China and global markets, noting that cooperation with China has expanded across manufacturing, agriculture, energy, tourism and infrastructure. The Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and RCEP have further widened market access and strengthened regional supply chains.
Citing the Chinese proverb, "If you want to get rich, first build roads," Sun Chanthol said Chinese-supported infrastructure has connected farmers with markets, factories with ports and businesses with customers, creating broader economic opportunities for Cambodia.
He said Cambodia aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, with the government prioritising high-value investment in advanced manufacturing, digital technology, clean energy, agro-processing and modern logistics.
On the occasion, Sun Chanthol reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to deepening investment cooperation with China through technology transfer, stronger domestic supply chains, skills development, green infrastructure and greater opportunities for Cambodians.
Concluding with the proverb "A single tree cannot make a forest, and a single string cannot make music," he said Cambodia believes global investment should be built on openness over division, connectivity over isolation, and peaceful cooperation over confrontation.
=FRESH NEWS
