China and Cambodia convened their inaugural “2+2” strategic dialogue meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, according to reports from Xinhua and China Daily. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun cochaired the discussions alongside Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.
Institutional Upgrades in Bilateral Diplomacy and Defense
The newly established dialogue framework is designed to elevate political and defense security cooperation into a structured platform for mutual assistance, according to statements from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reported by Xinhua. During Wednesday’s sessions in Phnom Penh, both governments agreed to expand the dialogue format into a “3+3” mechanism by incorporating China’s Ministry of Public Security and Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior, as outlined in a news release issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn reiterated Cambodia’s partnership with Beijing during the meetings, describing China as a trusted friend and acknowledging ongoing support from Beijing. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha stated that Cambodia aims to explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation to foster further development in state ties, according to official reporting.
Security Cooperation and Regional Stability Measures
The inaugural meeting produced concrete agreements targeting transnational crime, defense coordination, and regional stability. According to official reports, both nations committed to intensifying law enforcement and defense collaboration, with specific mandates to combat online gambling and telecom fraud while safeguarding national cybersecurity.
Addressing broader regional security, Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized Beijing’s role as a peace facilitator. According to Xinhua, Wang expressed support for Cambodia and Thailand in implementing consensus agreements reached during trilateral talks at Fuxian Lake in Yunnan province, urging both countries to utilize existing bilateral mechanisms to manage relations. Furthermore, both delegations affirmed their support for resolving regional disputes through direct dialogue and negotiation, opposing unilateralism and power politics while pledging to uphold international fairness, justice, and global free trade.
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