Latest news with #Cambodia-China
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Tourism ministry shares details of Cambodia-China Tourism Year events
PHNOM PENH: In a bid to strengthen cultural and tourism ties between Cambodia and China, the Ministry of Tourism has laid out ambitious plans for the 'Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025'. The initiative, a result of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia in mid-April, aims to attract a larger number of Chinese tourists and deepen bilateral relationship between the two nations. Chuk Chumno, director-general of Tourism Development and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed the launch of this significant campaign. He shared details about the lineup of major events that will be organised as part of the 'Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025'. The events will showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potential of both countries. 'These include an international music festival, an international street art festival, a mixed martial arts festival, food diplomacy promotion and the Cambodia-China International Tourism Conference, among others,' said Chumno. One of the highlights of this extensive programme is the tourism business matching forum, which is expected to facilitate deeper collaboration in the tourism sector. The initiative will also feature the exchange of tourism goodwill ambassadors and promote Cambodia-China film tourism through targeted activities, including a planned visit by a Chinese media delegation. Plans have also been laid out for an overland expedition from China which will culminate with a tour of the Kingdom, although details of the route were not available. Chumno elaborated on the planned international music festival, which will be held either in Siem Reap province or Phnom Penh. 'It will serve as a cultural exchange between the two countries, showcasing the diversity of our artistic traditions,' he said. In addition, a street art festival will feature a variety of performances, including traditional Cambodian Bassac theatre and Chinese opera, to engage audiences with both cultures. A unique element of this collaboration is the special performance planned between two iconic characters from both nations' folklore: the Monkey King Hanuman from Cambodia and the Monkey King Sun Wukong from China. 'We are curious to learn about the Chinese Monkey King and they are interested to know more about Hanuman,' Chumno explained, emphasising the shared cultural heritage. In addition to the arts, martial arts will also play a key role in the exchange. Cambodia and China both boast rich traditions in martial arts, including Cambodia's kun lbokator, yuthakun khom and Kun Khmer, and China's kung fu, Shaolin, and tai chi. These traditions will be highlighted throughout the year as part of the ongoing cultural dialogue. To further attract Chinese tourists, the tourism ministry has aligned these events with China's major holidays, such as the Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week. Tourism minister Huot Hak, the governor of China's Jiangsu province and other Chinese officials chose the third quarter of the year for the events to ensure that the Chinese public has the opportunity to explore Cambodia during their vacation period. A key aspect of the campaign will be food diplomacy, with both countries exchanging regional culinary delights. 'Cambodia will showcase its traditional dishes, including amok noodles, Khmer desserts and a variety of Khmer cakes,' said Chumno. China will present its eight regional dishes, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate and promote both cultures' food traditions. The cultural exchange and tourism collaboration was officially inaugurated at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall in Phnom Penh on May 23. The opening ceremony included a special art performance, 'The Beauty of Cambodia-Jiangsu', which was held from May 23-25. This event marked the beginning of a series of planned cultural showcases, strengthening the tourism links between the two nations. The event aims to build on the existing relationship between the two countries, which has seen a notable rise in tourist exchanges. In the first four months of 2025, Cambodia welcomed 380,000 Chinese visitors — a 48 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. Last year saw Cambodia welcome a total of 6,610,592 international tourists, including 848,952 from China, marking a 55 per cent rise compared to the previous year. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Experts laud Cambodia-China relations in new era
PHNOM PENH: Experts on Saturday (May 3) lauded Cambodia-China relations in a new era, saying that bilateral ties have enjoyed mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win results. During an event on "Cambodia-China Relations in the New Era," Eng Kokthay, director of the Techo Legacy and Policy School, said bilateral relations have steadily developed over the past decades, with remarkable fruits achieved. He said that as the world has faced a number of challenges in recent years, China has actively and consistently promoted a neighbourhood diplomacy to preserve peace, security and development in the region and beyond. Kokthay said this policy has been further consolidated in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said Chinese investment has dramatically transformed Cambodia's urban landscape, particularly in the capital Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. "Chinese investment has transformed Sihanoukville from quiet seaside province into a bustling hub for Chinese tourists and investors," he said. "A cornerstone of China-Cambodia economic cooperation, the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone has transformed Cambodia's industrial landscape since its establishment," Chandarith said. The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has reduced logistics costs by 40 per cent and transformed the quiet coastal city into a major industrial hub, he added. Chandarith said China has been the largest source of foreign direct investment to and the biggest trading partner of Cambodia, playing a crucial role in the country's economic and trade development. As 2025 has been designated as the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism, Chandarith predicted that the number of Chinese tourists to the South-East Asian country would significantly increase this year. Diep Sophal, a history professor at the University of Cambodia, said an iron-clad friendship between the two countries is unbreakable and will be even stronger and closer in the future. Sophal said bilateral ties have been built on the principles of mutual respect, trust and support, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and shared prosperity. Pay Sambo, secretary general of the Civil Society Alliance Forum (CSAF), said Cambodian and Chinese non-governmental organisations have also cooperated well with each other in the areas of humanitarian assistance and poverty alleviation. - Xinhua
The Star
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Chinese EV giant BYD starts to build vehicle assembly plant in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD on Monday began to build an automotive assembly plant in Cambodia, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) said in a press release. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and CDC First Vice-Chairman Sun Chanthol attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the plant at the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone in the southwestern coastal province of Preah Sihanouk, the press release said. Chanthol said the assembly plant was another fruit of close Cambodia-China cooperation, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative. "The presence of BYD company in Cambodia is a testament to Chinese investors' confidence in Cambodia's business and investment environment," he said. Chanthol is confident that the plant will be a venue for the transfer of technical skills and new technology in the EV sector to Cambodian talents. Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said BYD's assembly plant project in Cambodia marked a strategic move to tap into the country's growing industrial capacity and EV market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "It aligns with Cambodia's ambitions to become a regional automotive hub while benefiting from trade advantages under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership," he told Xinhua. He said China's EV expansion contributes to global carbon reduction by promoting cleaner transport. "Strengthening green energy infrastructure is crucial to maximizing EV benefits in Cambodia and other emerging markets," he said. BYD is the most popular EV brand in Cambodia, followed by Japan's Toyota and America's Tesla, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Cambodia registered a total of 2,253 EVs in 2024, a rise from 313 in the year before, the ministry said. The Southeast Asian country aims to increase the number to 30,000 by 2030, the ministry added.
