Xi meets Cambodian leader on final stop of regional diplomatic blitz
Xi arrived in the Cambodian capital after visiting Vietnam and Malaysia, as Beijing seeks to build ties and offset the impact of huge tariffs imposed by his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
Former leader Hun Sen and his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, shared posts on their social media accounts showing them meeting with Xi.
The two countries signed 37 agreements on a wide range of areas, including water resources and education, according to Cambodian pro-government media outlet Fresh News.
China is Cambodia's biggest trading partner and source of investment and more than a third of Cambodia's $11 billion in foreign debt is owed to Beijing, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Earlier in the day, the Chinese leader was greeted by King Norodom Sihamoni during a military welcome ceremony after he touched down in Phnom Penh.
In an article published by Fresh News on Thursday, Xi said that China supported the kingdom "choosing a development path that suits the nation, safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."
He said the two countries should "resolutely oppose external forces interfering in internal affairs, sowing discord and undermining" relations.
Phnom Penh is also among Beijing's most reliable supporters in Asia. Hun Manet had described Xi's visit as a display of "iron-clad" friendship.
He said in a video posted on Wednesday that the two countries had "common interests based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, equality, and non-interference in internal affairs."
He also said China had played a "pivotal role" in Cambodia's socio-economic development.
China and Cambodia celebrate 67 years of diplomatic relations this year and the kingdom also commemorated on Thursday 50 years since Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge.
Trump imposed tariffs of 49% on Cambodia, among the highest of the levies handed out in his April 2 "Liberation Day" trade announcements.
He then paused the levies for most countries for 90 days, reverting to a base tariff of 10%.
While meeting Hun Sen, Xi said "trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order".
"Unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people," Xi said, as quoted by China's state news agency Xinhua.
China is excluded from the 90-day pause and faces new U.S. levies of up to 145% on many of its products.
Beijing has called the taxes a "joke" and imposed retaliatory tariffs of 125% on U.S. goods.
Hun Manet wrote a letter to Washington "expressing Cambodia's good faith to negotiate a mutual solution" and pledging to reduce its own tariffs on 19 categories of U.S. goods, according to the commerce ministry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: Aug. 4, 2025
TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Golf: Yamashita wins Women's British Open for 1st LPGA major PORTHCAWL, Wales - Japan's Miyu Yamashita won the Women's British Open on Sunday, claiming her maiden U.S. LPGA Tour victory at the fifth and final major of the year. The tour rookie, who turned 24 on Saturday, is the second Japanese winner of the tournament, following Hinako Shibuno in 2019, while she is the sixth from the country to win a women's major. ---------- Secretary to ruling party lawmaker to be indicted over fund scandal TOKYO - Prosecutors have decided to indict a secretary to veteran ruling party lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda, overturning an earlier decision not to charge the aide over a failure to report about 20 million yen ($135,000) in political funds, investigative sources said Sunday. The move marks the first time that prosecutors have decided to pursue a criminal case, following a prosecution review panel decision, related to the Liberal Democratic Party slush fund scandal, reflecting persisting public frustration over the issue. ---------- 4 workers who died after falling in manhole had no protective gear SAITAMA, Japan - Four workers who died after falling down a manhole over the weekend were not equipped with protective gear, their company said Sunday. The sewage survey firm also said levels of hydrogen sulfide -- a highly toxic, colorless gas -- detected at the site of the accident in Gyoda, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, were more than 15 times the national standard when it happened. ---------- China movie on Japan biological warfare unit to premiere Sept. 18 BEIJING - A Chinese movie on the Imperial Japanese Army's notorious Unit 731 will be screened from Sept. 18, state-run media said Sunday, after its original release date last week passed without explanation. The new screening date falls on the 94th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang -- an event that marked the start of the Manchurian Incident, leading to Japan's invasion of northeastern China. ---------- Japan seeks to create int'l rules on space debris removal TOKYO - Japan will seek to establish international rules for the removal of human-made objects in space that could pose collision risks to satellites and the International Space Station if left in orbit, according to officials. By the end of March, the Cabinet Office, in cooperation with experts, aims to identify legal and procedural issues involved in clearing space debris, such as fragments of rockets and satellites. ---------- U.S. team clad in game characters wins World Cosplay Summit in Japan NAGOYA - A team representing the United States clad in popular game characters won the championship of the in central Japan's Nagoya on Sunday. "I have no words. We've been working for this for so many years, so many keep working and dreams can come true," said a U.S. team member dressed as a character from "Fire Emblem Engage" after bagging the first prize at the city's Aichi Arts Center. ---------- Ukraine Foreign Minister Sybiha to seek more support from Japan KYIV - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha plans to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya in the coming days, government sources said Saturday, as Kyiv seeks Tokyo's support for its reconstruction after Russia's invasion. During his first visit to Japan as foreign minister, Sybiha is also likely to meet with other high-ranking officials and ask Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government to strengthen economic sanctions on Russia, the sources said. ---------- Sumo: Wrestlers draw large crowd as regional tour visits Osaka expo OSAKA - Some 4,000 spectators from home and abroad gathered to watch the Japan Sumo Association's regional summer tour make its first stop at the World Exposition in Osaka on Sunday. Yokozuna Onosato's ring-entering ritual and bouts between wrestlers were on display at the venue as well as a shokkiri show, which comically demonstrates prohibited moves in the ancient sport. ---------- Video: Aomori Nebuta Festival commences
Japan Today
6 hours ago
- Japan Today
Russian, Chinese navies carry out artillery and anti-submarine drills in Sea of Japan
Russian and Chinese naval officers take part in a ceremony marking the start of the upcoming joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan, following the arrival of Chinese military vessels in Vladivostok, Russia, on July 31. The Russian and Chinese navies are carrying out artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan as part of scheduled joint exercises, the Russian Pacific Fleet was quoted as saying on Sunday. The drills are taking place two days after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in "the appropriate regions" in response to remarks by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. However, they were scheduled well before Trump's action. Interfax news agency quoted the Pacific Fleet as saying Russian and Chinese vessels were moving in a joint detachment including a large Russian anti-submarine ship and two Chinese destroyers. It said diesel-electric submarines from the two countries were also involved, as well as a Chinese submarine rescue ship. The maneuvers are part of exercises titled "Maritime Interaction-2025" which are scheduled to end on Tuesday. Interfax said Russian and Chinese sailors would conduct artillery firing, practise anti-submarine and air defense missions, and improve joint search and rescue operations at sea. Russia and China, which signed a "no-limits" strategic partnership shortly before Russia went to war in Ukraine in 2022, conduct regular military exercises to rehearse coordination between their armed forces and send a deterrent signal to adversaries. Trump said his submarine order on Friday was made in response to what he called "highly provocative" remarks by Russia's Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries. Russia and the United States have by far the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world. It is extremely rare for either country to discuss the deployment and location of its nuclear submarines. Trump's comments came at a time of mounting tension with Moscow as he grows frustrated at the lack of progress towards ending the Ukraine war. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
NHK
9 hours ago
- NHK
China, Russia begin maritime phase of naval exercise in Sea of Japan
China and Russia have begun the maritime phase of their joint naval exercise in the Sea of Japan. The move is widely seen as part of their apparent effort to deepen bilateral military cooperation to counter the United States. China's state-run media report that the maritime exercise began on Sunday after the start of a chart-based rehearsal on Friday. The two countries have conducted almost annual joint exercises in recent years. Vessels participating in the exercise include China's missile destroyers and Russia's large anti-submarine ship. They confirmed communication links in waters near Vladivostok in Russia's Far East on the first day of the exercise. The exercise will continue through Tuesday, covering such drills as anti-submarine and air defense training. Chinese media add that the two nations will hold a maritime joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean after the exercise. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow in May, confirming that their militaries would expand the size and scope of their joint exercises.
