China-ASEAN ties set to get a timely shot in the arm

Chinese President Xi Jinping's high-stakes diplomatic visit to Cambodia from Thursday to Friday is expected to further consolidate the "ironclad "friendship between the two countries.

Cambodia-China trade has been growing at a steady pace in recent years, exceeding $15 billion, up 23 percent year-on-year, in 2024, with Cambodia's exports to China surging from $1.24 billion in 2022 to $1.48 billion in 2023, and $1.75 billion in 2024.Cambodia's trade with China has grown steadily from 2016. As a matter of fact, bilateral trade expanded even during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the resilience of the two economies. Also, China has been the largest source of foreign investment in Cambodia for 12 consecutive years, accounting for almost 50 percent of the total investment till last year.

Given these facts, President Xi's high-level visit is likely to be fruitful for both countries.