China-Cambodia friendship exchange event held in Cambodian capital

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Civil Service Minister Hun Many (2nd R) attends the 2025 "Silk Road People-to-people Connectivity" China-Cambodia Exchange Event in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Dec. 15, 2025. The event was held here in the Cambodian capital on Monday, aiming to deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' youth. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 "Silk Road People-to-people Connectivity" China-Cambodia Exchange Event was held here in the Cambodian capital on Monday, aiming to deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' youth.

Under the theme of "Silk Road People-to-People Connectivity," the event brought together more than 300 Cambodian and Chinese youth.

Speaking at the event, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Civil Service Minister Hun Many said the event was crucial to boost relations and traditional solidarity between Cambodia and China even closer.

China is Cambodia's key trading partner and investor, he said, adding that China is also a major source of foreign tourists to the Southeast Asian country.

The event was organized by the Youth House for Cambodia-China Friendship (YHCCF) in collaboration with the China Foundation for Peace and Development (CFPD).

YHCCF's vice chairman Sok Soken said people-to-people exchanges, entrepreneurs, investors, and youth are the main driving forces in promoting relations and cooperation in all sectors between the two countries.

"I firmly hope that this important event will help inspire the minds of the youth of our two countries to move towards friendship and unity," he said.

Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said that this China-Cambodia friendly exchange activity will undoubtedly provide an important platform and inject strong momentum for young people from both countries to enhance mutual understanding and deepen practical cooperation.

"The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia will continue to provide strong support for young people from both countries to deepen exchanges and strengthen cooperation," he added.

CFPD's secretary general Wang Heming said this event was designed to deepen exchanges and cooperation between young people of the two countries in the fields of people-to-people communication, innovation, economy and trade.

"The event lays a solid foundation for youth to the everlasting friendship between China and Cambodia," he said.

He said 2025 is the "China-Cambodia Tourism Year", which provides an important opportunity for the two countries to deepen non-governmental exchanges and promote youth interactions.

"Standing at a new historical starting point, CFPD will take youth as the bridge and people-to-people bond as the goal," Wang said.

This photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025 shows Chinese and Cambodian youth attending the 2025 "Silk Road People-to-people Connectivity" China-Cambodia Exchange Event in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The event was held here in the Cambodian capital on Monday, aiming to deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' youth. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)