Thu Apr 17 07:58:54 UTC 2025: ## Xi Jinping’s Cambodia Visit Aims to Strengthen Ties Amidst US Tariffs

**Phnom Penh, Cambodia** – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cambodia Thursday for a visit aimed at bolstering regional trade ties and offering support to a key ally facing pressure from US tariffs. Cambodia, heavily reliant on Chinese investment and facing steep US tariffs on its garment exports (half of which are produced by Chinese-owned businesses), is seeking further financial assistance from Beijing.

Xi’s visit, part of a Southeast Asia tour, includes meetings with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Senate President Hun Sen. The Cambodian government hopes to secure Chinese funding for the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal, a major infrastructure project. While China has been Cambodia’s largest investor and creditor, providing billions in funding for infrastructure projects, recent lending has slowed. Last year saw no new loans from China, a departure from previous years.

The visit comes as Cambodia grapples with a 49 percent US tariff on its clothing and footwear exports, a rate paused until July but posing a significant challenge. Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu suggests Xi’s visit is intended to reaffirm China’s support and discourage Cambodia from seeking concessions at Beijing’s expense in negotiations with the US.

During his visit, Xi urged Cambodia to oppose “hegemonism” and “protectionism,” echoing similar statements made in Vietnam and Malaysia earlier this week. While Cambodia publicly emphasizes its strong relationship with China, there has been a shift in its statements regarding Chinese contributions to the Funan Techo Canal project, downplaying the extent of Chinese funding. Despite the reduced financial commitments from Beijing, Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated the strong bilateral relationship and emphasized China’s crucial role in Cambodia’s economic development. The visit underscores the complex economic and geopolitical interplay between China, Cambodia, and the United States in the region.

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