Strengthening China-Cambodia cooperation burnishes ironclad ties to a brighter sheen

China has friendly relations with many countries but only a few of them are described as "ironclad". Having withstood the harsh tests of international changes over the decades, relations between China and Cambodia have proved they are well-deserving of that designation.

The two countries have supported each other in maintaining their respective stability and continually promoted mutual development and prosperity since the founding of bilateral diplomatic ties 67 years ago. During the process, the two countries have set an example for building a new type of international relations and have taken the lead in working together to advance the Belt and Road Initiative and build a community with a shared future.

As President Xi Jinping, who is paying a state visit to the country from Thursday to Friday, wrote in a signed article published by Cambodian media, the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is deeply rooted in good-neighborly relations, defined by mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness, powered by equality and mutual benefit, and founded upon inclusiveness and mutual learning.

Under the guidance of heads-of-state diplomacy, the cooperation between the two countries is high-quality, high-level and of a high standard, and the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia has entered a new era. Being rooted in the actual development needs of the two countries, their friendship is not an interest calculation, stopgap measure or part of any bloc confrontation. It is in line with the common interests of the two countries and their peoples.

Building on that momentum, the two countries should continue to forge greater synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy, and expedite the development of the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor.

Faced with the turbulent international situation and the acute global challenges, both countries are committed to supporting each other, and are deepening their mutual political trust. By maintaining close high-level exchanges and adhering to the blueprint of building a community with a shared future for China and Cambodia in the new era from a strategic height, the two countries can help each other emerge stronger from this crucible of pressures.

By strengthening their industry and supply chain cooperation, and expanding their high-quality mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as advanced manufacturing, green development, digital economy and other fields, the two partners can help promote each other's modernization process.

To prevent this process from being derailed, the two sides should strengthen their strategic communication to resolutely oppose the efforts of those seeking to drive a wedge between them and sow discord in the region. To build a higher level security guarantee, the two countries should conduct more joint exercises and training, and jointly establish Belt and Road project security and emergency management mechanisms, crack down on criminal activities, such as telecommunications network fraud, and work together to create a safe environment for the development of the two countries.

By adhering to the principle of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, they can actively promote peace and stability for themselves, and the region at large. To that end they should draw wisdom from the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, accelerate the construction of a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future for peace and prosperity, and work together to build a peaceful and prosperous Asian homeland.

It is in line with the common interest of the two countries and the region for the two sides to advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, and to join hands to resist protectionism and maintain an open and cooperative international environment. Over the years, China and Cambodia have proved they are good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners. In continuing to do so, they will further demonstrate how well-merited the epithet "ironclad" is for their relations.