Cambodia, China boost cybercrime, security cooperation

December 9, 2016, 12:10 pm

Cambodia and China are moving beyond agreements made last April to upgrade their bilateral cooperation in security, counter-terrorism and prevention of cybercrime.

Liu Guangyuan, director-general of China’s Department of External Security Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and agreed to set up a mechanism to boost bilateral cooperation in these fields.

Cambodia attended the China-Southeast Asian security services counter-terrorism summit in Beijing last April 7. During the summit, Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries agreed to increase cooperation and communication to create a comprehensive and sustainable security strategy for Asia.

Strengthening ties

In October, President Xi Jinping visited Cambodia and met with Prime Minister Hun Sen whereupon the two pledged to strengthen their strategic cooperation in a number of projects and economic sectors.

In addition to signing 31 agreements of cooperation, the two leaders agreed on the construction of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ).

The SSEZ is an overseas economic and trade cooperation zone agreed between Cambodia and China, and is expected to hold up to 300 factories once completed. So far, 100 companies have started operations there.

China is also Cambodia’s largest trading partner and greatest source of foreign investment.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies