China's Xi: Willing to deepen higher-level political mutual trust with Cambodia - CCTV

China's Xi: Willing to deepen higher-level political mutual trust with Cambodia - CCTV

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia mark a significant diplomatic milestone for China, as well as a potential boost to regional economic development. The five-day tour, scheduled from Monday to Friday, is Xi's first foreign trip of the year and comes on the heels of a central conference on neighborhood work, where he emphasized the importance of building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries [1].

The visit to Vietnam, Xi's fourth state visit as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Economic cooperation between China and Vietnam has been robust, with China being Vietnam's largest trading partner since 2004 and Vietnam being China's largest trading partner within ASEAN since 2016. Bilateral trade volume has consistently exceeded $200 billion annually, reaching $260.65 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 13.5 percent [2].

Xi's visit to Malaysia, where he last visited in 2013, will elevate ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries have maintained high-level development in relations, with China remaining Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. The trade volume hit an all-time high of $212.04 billion in 2024 [3].

In Cambodia, Xi's visit will deepen strategic mutual trust and cooperation. Cambodia was the first nation to sign a new action plan with China to build a community with a shared future, reflecting its strategic significance in the region. China has been Cambodia's largest foreign investor and trading partner, with the trade volume reaching $15.1 billion in 2024, surging 23.8 percent year-on-year [4].

The visits are expected to inject new impetus into the peace and development of the region and the world, according to Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Through these visits, China aims to further strengthen coordination with the three countries on regional and international issues, move bilateral relations towards a high-level strategic community with a shared future, and contribute to the growing strength and unity of the Global South and peace and stability in the region [5].