China and Cambodia Hold First "2+2" Strategic Dialogue Mechanism Meeting in Phnom Penh

The inaugural meeting of the China-Cambodia "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign and defense ministers was held in Phnom Penh on April 22. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun co-chaired the meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhon and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Seiha.

The two sides held in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations, political and security cooperation, defense and military security, as well as international and regional situations, and reached broad consensus.

According to Xinhua, Wang Yi stated that the current international landscape is undergoing intense turbulence and intertwined changes, with regional countries' stability and development facing impacts. In the face of a complex and severe external environment, China and Cambodia have maintained strategic clarity, upheld mutual assistance and support, further consolidated mutual trust, and continuously strengthened strategic resilience. Last April, President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Cambodia and engaged in in-depth strategic communication with Cambodian leaders, opening a new chapter in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Wang Yi noted that the two countries' leaders decided to establish the China-Cambodia "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign and defense ministers, injecting fresh momentum into enhancing strategic mutual trust and strengthening strategic coordination. The convening of the first meeting fully demonstrates the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia that has withstood tests, and underscores the high importance both sides attach to deepening strategic cooperation. China is ready to work with Cambodia to develop the mechanism into a strategic platform for elevating political security and defense security cooperation, and to consolidate it as a key vehicle for mutual assistance, unity, and collaboration, thereby making new contributions to advancing the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

Wang Yi emphasized that amid the accelerating evolution of the world's changes unseen in a century, China and Cambodia need to unite more closely than ever. The two sides should deepen political and security cooperation, strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance their respective governing capacities, and firmly keep the initiative for development and security in their own hands. China supports Cambodia and Thailand in implementing the consensus reached at the China-Cambodia-Thailand trilateral summit, making full use of existing bilateral mechanisms to strengthen dialogue, rebuild mutual trust, and improve relations. China is willing to provide a platform for more comprehensive and effective communication between Cambodia and Thailand. China will continue to support Cambodia in accelerating development and revitalization, improving people's livelihoods, and stands ready to provide further humanitarian assistance for border residents' resettlement and other needs, while advancing demonstration projects for poverty reduction cooperation.

Wang Yi said that the international community is experiencing the most profound turbulence and transformation since the end of the Cold War. China appreciates Cambodia's active support for the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping and is willing to deepen cooperation with Cambodia under the frameworks of these initiatives. The two sides should build an Asian security model featuring shared weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and dialogue and consultation, and promote the global governance system toward a more just and equitable direction.

Defense Minister Dong Jun stated that the synergy between China and Cambodia in the diplomatic and defense fields represents a strategic choice for addressing risks and challenges and fortifying security barriers. It will inject new impetus into safeguarding the security and development interests of both countries and ensuring long-term peace and stability in the region. Facing a complex and volatile international and regional security situation, China is ready to work with Cambodia to deepen military and security mutual trust, write a new chapter in the "old friendship like pure gold" between the two militaries, and make greater contributions to building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Prak Sokhon said that the China-Cambodia "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism reflects the high level and depth of bilateral relations and plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing strategic mutual trust and deepening practical cooperation, which will surely promote the long-term development of ties between the two countries. China is Cambodia's most trusted friend, and Cambodia thanks China for its all-round support.

He noted that the ironclad friendship between Cambodia and China is deeply rooted in the peoples of both countries and benefits them. Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and steadfastly supports all efforts by China to achieve national reunification. Cambodia is willing to work with China to continuously enrich the "Diamond Six-Side" cooperation framework as well as practical cooperation under the "Industrial Development Corridor" and "Fish and Rice Corridor," and jointly advance more outcomes in building the Cambodia-China community with a shared future. Cambodia highly appreciates China's fair and objective stance in international and regional affairs, supports China's series of major global initiatives, and is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with China to jointly uphold multilateralism, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world, and advance inclusive economic globalization that benefits all.

Tea Seiha stated that the dialogue fully demonstrates the unbreakable traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Cambodia and China, enhances high-level strategic communication, and deepens political mutual trust. Cambodia has always attached great importance to cooperation with China in national defense and security and is willing to summarize experiences under the existing bilateral frameworks, pool strengths, actively explore new pathways for cooperation, and promote even greater development of Cambodia-China relations.

The two sides agreed that, facing the current international situation, they should maintain strategic clarity and resolve, safeguard political security and regime security, mutually support each other's core interests, solidly advance practical cooperation across various fields, and continue to add new substance to the China-Cambodia community with a shared future. They should coordinate high-quality development with high-level security, oppose any forces attempting to sow discord in the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia, deepen law enforcement and defense cooperation, and jointly crack down on online gambling and telecommunications fraud to safeguard their respective cybersecurity. Within the frameworks of the four major global initiatives, they should actively carry out cooperation, support the resolution of regional disputes through dialogue and negotiation, jointly oppose unilateral bullying and power politics, and uphold global free trade and international fairness and justice.