China and Cambodia have been geographically close, culturally connected, and connected in friendship since ancient times. What kind of feelings does Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen have for the unbreakable and profound friendship between China and Cambodia? Who do we rely on when we once said not to rely on China? , what kind of thinking does he have? Today, we are in the conversation together, looking for answers.

Hun Sen: We look forward to deepening cooperation in various fields including political cooperation between China and Cambodia. The priority areas are to promote cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment. During the epidemic, we watched and helped each other, especially in the prevention and control of the epidemic in Cambodia, and China provided a lot of help. My visit this time will also promote the implementation of a series of existing agreements between the two countries, including the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement.

Hun Sen: China assisted in the construction of Cambodia's first full-line four-lane national road and the first expressway, and undertook the construction of Cambodia's first cement plant, first thermal power station, and largest hydropower station. Since the implementation of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement in January 2022, the trade volume between the two countries has exceeded the US$10 billion mark, two years earlier than expected. Cambodian high-quality rice, pangasius, bananas, and mangoes have entered the homes of ordinary Chinese people. The Sihanoukville Economic Zone jointly built by the two sides has attracted 170 companies from all over the world to settle in, creating nearly 30,000 jobs.

Vehicles line up at the entrance of the Golden Port Expressway in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia

The deep iron friendship between China and Cambodia has also aroused doubts from individual countries. They said whether the development of Cambodia is too dependent on China. You have actually made a very strong response to this. You said, if you do not rely on China, who else can you rely on? What kind of information do you want to convey?

Hun Sen: Regarding this point, I have already made it very clear, and I will continue to say that instead of relying on China, who should I rely on? We can invite some people who say we rely too much on China to look at the bridges that have been built across the Mekong River, across the Basar River, across the Tonle Sap River and across the Sekong River, and then stand on the bridge and ask them, if there is no help from China, Who will help build these bridges? In fact, who can replace China? Instead of doing anything, they came to question us. If I am not allowed to rely on China, I still cannot get the new crown vaccine to vaccinate the Cambodian people. Now we return to the theme of a community with a shared future, which is in line with Cambodia's wishes. When it comes to China-ASEAN trade, who stands to gain the most? Of course, ASEAN members benefit the most! Because the products can be exported to the Chinese market. What I see is that China's development is good for the world. You can study what happened recently, some countries put pressure on Cambodia to follow their political path. But I can't do that. Although Cambodia is poor and backward, Cambodia has its own dignity. We can't do what others want that doesn't suit our national conditions. Some countries often threaten us and sanction us. I firmly believe that China will certainly not do this to us. Therefore, I am not afraid of any pressure, and I have publicly stated that I will not trade national sovereignty and independence for any assistance or preferential treatment.

Since the entrance of the Phnom Penh Toll Station of the Jingang Expressway opened in October 2022, it has not only become a popular choice for locals to travel, but has also become a very popular check-in place for Internet celebrities. Many Cambodians will come here to take pictures of the scenery along the way and post them on social media.

Silu Wusi, a Cambodian truck driver: Since I knew that Cambodia will have the first expressway, I feel very happy, and I can drive on the road in our country.

Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone

This expressway adopts Chinese design and quality standards, spans 5 provinces, and has a total length of 187.05 kilometers. In front of us, at the southernmost end of the Golden Port Expressway, is Sihanoukville Port, the largest deep-water seaport in Cambodia known as Little Shenzhen. Sluusi said that such a smooth and smooth driving experience was unimaginable in the past.

Silu Wusi, a Cambodian truck driver: From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, it used to take seven or eight hours to take Highway No. 4. But on the Jingang Expressway, we only need to spend two and a half to three hours, and the Jingang Expressway is also safer. I learned from the conversations with the locals that after the opening of the Jingang Expressway, it is convenient for them to travel for work and visit relatives and friends more frequently.

Your Excellency Prime Minister, what impact do you think this expressway will have on the development of Cambodia? How can China's Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia's "Four Corner Strategy" achieve more efficient and in-depth strategic docking in the next cooperation process?

Hun Sen: This is the pride of Cambodia-China cooperation, which provides Cambodia with an opportunity to change its appearance. We have seen highways abroad, but never in our own country. I have the first one now, hopefully a second soon, and many more in the future.

Hun Sen: The proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative almost coincides with Cambodia's Four-Corner Strategy, so Cambodia participates in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Expressway is a real case of the construction of road corridors along the Belt and Road. China's assistance to Cambodia includes helping to improve information technology and infrastructure construction such as Siem Reap's new international airport. To our appreciation, China respects our decision very much. We want to give priority to building this road, building this bridge, building this canal, and building this hospital. Chinese friends all respect our decision.Editor/Ma Xue