Cambodia embraces China’s President Xi on state visit

TIL Desk/World/Phnom Penh-China’s President Xi Jinping promised Cambodia hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and loans today during a state visit to the nation, which is one Beijing’s staunchest regional allies. Hundreds of students waving Cambodian and Chinese flags greeted Xi alongside officials at the airport before his motorcade sped into town for an audience with the royal family and later Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodia has long been a strident supporter of Beijing’s communist rulers, who have lavished the poor country with cash. Today the two leaders signed 31 agreements that saw China give Cambodia USD 178 million in aid for economic cooperation, a USD 59 million loan, plus an additional USD 15 million in military aid. Xi also forgave a USD 89 million debt, the leaders said in a joint announcement after a signing ceremony.

China is Cambodia’s top foreign investor and has given the country billions of dollars in grants and low-interest loans during Hun Sen’s 31-year rule. In July it offered Cambodia nearly USD 550 million in aid, days after the kingdom was accused of undermining regional unity by backing Beijing in disputes over the South China Sea. In recent years Cambodia has become a thorn in the side for neighbouring nations hoping to present a unified front against China’s island building in the contested waters.