The second Cambodia-China Think Tank High-Level Forum was held Wednesday in Beijing, with the theme of "Towards New Development Phase of Cambodia-China Bilateral Relations."
More than 150 experts, government officials and business leaders from the two countries attended the forum either in person or remotely. They exchanged ideas on three major topics, namely COVID-19 response, economic recovery and state governance; bilateral economic cooperation; as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The event was co-hosted by the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech via video link at the opening session.
Huang said the joint COVID-19 fight had further elevated the bilateral ties to a new high. "We can say that in the fight against COVID-19, China and Cambodia have stood together through thick and thin, and our joint pandemic fight clearly demonstrates the profound friendship between our two peoples," he said.
Huang added that China is willing to work with Cambodia to deepen strategic communication, continue working hand in hand to fight the pandemic, boost economic and trade cooperation, uphold multilateralism, continue to carry forward the traditional friendship of the two countries, and further promote the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.
He also called for close cooperation between think tanks of both countries and the strengthening of discussions and exchanges.
Bin Chhin, Cambodia's standing deputy prime minister and cabinet minister, said that Cambodia and China share a long tradition of friendship, and the bilateral relations have reached an unprecedented height.
Chhin said that the two countries' signing of a free trade agreement last October started a new chapter in the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
He said the forum, which offers a communication platform for researchers, will help both countries enhance their mutual understanding, practical cooperation, and people-to-people friendship.
CASS President Xie Fuzhan said the think tank high-level forum represents an important effort by the CASS and the RAC to implement the action plan for building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future, which was signed by the two countries in April 2019.
Sok Touch, president of the RAC, said that as a platform of people-to-people diplomacy, the forum will contribute to consolidating traditional friendship and promoting cooperation between the two countries.
To help support the fight against COVID-19 in Cambodia, the CASS donated 100,000 medical masks to the RAC at the forum.
The event also witnessed the release of a new book titled "Cambodia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Toward a Community with a Shared Future." The book collects essays submitted by 22 academics to the first Cambodia-China Think Tank High-Level Forum held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in December 2019.