Xi Wraps Up Southeast Asia Tour with Calls for Solidarity in Cambodia

Cambodia quietly opened a new diplomatic front, launching its first round of talks with the United States on President Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs.
China's President Xi Jinping (C) and Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni (C-L) walking past the honor guards upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport on April 17, 2025. (Photo by POOL / AFP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cambodia, the final leg of his Southeast Asia tour. Xi urged Cambodia to oppose “hegemonism, power politics and camp-based confrontation” in an article published in the Cambodian media on Thursday, further emphasizing a theme that has run through all three country visits during his trip. The statement said China supports Cambodian sovereignty and sees it as key to its outreach to the region. 

Cambodia – a long-time partner of China – reportedly hopes to increase Chinese investment as Beijing sharply ramps up its neighborhood diplomacy amid escalating pressure from the United States. “We expect more cooperation, including on infrastructure development,” said Meas Soksensan, a Finance Ministry spokesperson.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by CGSP Staff

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

China Says Vietnam President to Lam to Make 3-Day Visit

China said Vietnamese President To Lam will visit for three days from Sunday, in his first overseas trip since he was formally named his country’s top leader. “Vietnamese President To Lam will pay ...

China’s Xi Hails ‘New Chapter’ in Relations With Indonesia

Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Indonesian counterpart that Beijing hopes for a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, as the two leaders met on Saturday. Xi held talks with President Prabowo Subianto in Beijing, the ...

As Tensions Between China and the Philippines Surge, Wang Yi Calls on a Few Old Friends in Southeast Asia

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a quick sprint through Southeast Asia over the weekend as part of a three-nation tour of Malaysia, Singapore, and Cambodia.  Wang met with the prime ministers in ...
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Cambodia in April for a state visit, announced Khy Sovanratana, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Hun Manet Meets With Xi on First Overseas Trip as Cambodian PM

Cambodia’s new prime minister, Hun Manet, promised even closer ties with China during a meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. The newly-named Cambodian leader thanked Xi for China’s economic ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP