(Phnom Penh): Cambodia and China agreed to upgrade their “2+2” strategic dialogue to a “3+3” format, adding Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior and China’s Ministry of Public Security to the existing participation of foreign affairs and defence ministries, according to the press release on the outcomes of their first meeting seen by Fresh News on Thursday (Apr. 23).
The first Cambodia–China “2+2” Strategic Dialogue, held on 22 April 2026 in Phnom Penh, was chaired by Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha, and co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun.
According to the press release, this inaugural dialogue marks a significant milestone in Cambodia–China relations, reflecting the shared commitment of both sides to strengthening strategic coordination and advancing the building of an “all-weather Cambodia–China community with a shared future” in the new era.
Both sides noted with great satisfaction that the Cambodia–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to move forward with clarity, direction, and ambition. It demonstrates increasing resilience and maturity, and reaffirms the strong “ironclad friendship” between Cambodia and China, based on mutual respect, trust, and unwavering support for each other’s core interests.
In this context, Cambodia firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the four global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping on development, security, civilization, and governance.
The dialogue reflected shared perspectives between the two countries on political, security, and economic issues, as well as on regional and international matters.
In this regard, both sides emphasized the importance of high-level exchanges, strengthening institutional linkages, and enhancing coordination among ministries and agencies of the two countries.
They agreed that the “2+2” mechanism will serve as an important platform to further deepen strategic relations, enhance policy coordination, and jointly respond to emerging challenges at the national, regional, and global levels.
Both sides also agreed to upgrade the 2+2 dialogue to a “3+3” mechanism, with the participation of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, in order to respond to the growing scope of bilateral cooperation and evolving regional and international dynamics.
Looking ahead, Cambodia and China agreed to further deepen practical cooperation in both traditional and emerging sectors with shared potential, including digital transformation, green development, the blue economy, resilient supply chain connectivity, financial cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. In this context, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing key cooperation frameworks, including the Diamond Cooperation Framework, the Industrial and Technological Corridor, and the Fish and Rice Corridor, which will continue to deliver tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes for both countries and their peoples.
Both sides reaffirmed their shared determination to further advance the Cambodia–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which not only contributes to the prosperity of both nations but also to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
=FRESH NEWS
