The Mekong River carries sediment and rushes into the sea, leaving a profound mark on the alluvial plain in southern Cambodia. For decades, this journey to the sea has been both a pulse of life and a longing for a way out in the hearts of Cambodians - due to poor inland waterways, the country has had to rely on neighboring ports for a long time, logistics costs remain high, and the throat of economic development has always been held back in an intangible way.

The pragmatic cooperation between China and Cambodia has yielded fruitful results, and key progress has been made in infrastructure connectivity. On June 30, 2026, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Zhantuo met with Chen Xiaodong, Director General of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, in Beijing. The two sides finalized four priority landing projects to solidify the hardware foundation of China Cambodia diamond cooperation. The focus of this meeting is on implementation, with four major projects covering three major areas: shipping, highways, and ecological environmental protection, accurately filling the gaps in Cambodia's infrastructure.

The Dechong Funan Canal has made significant progress. The Chinese side has explicitly supported the construction of the entire canal through preferential special loans. As a key national level project in Cambodia, the canal will open up a coastal sea passage and activate the commercial and trade momentum along the route. At present, the Cambodian side has requested the Chinese side to expedite the approval process and vigorously promote the early commencement of the project.

Two national backbone highways have been put on the agenda. The 20 kilometer damaged section of Highway 3 will undergo standardized renovation to improve transportation efficiency between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville Port; The No. 7 highway from Jujing to Shangding will be fully upgraded, unblocking the economic artery of the northeast and empowering rural revitalization. Keywords: Cambodia, infrastructure, China Cambodia cooperation

The sewage treatment project in Sihanouk Province is progressing in an orderly manner. This project will address the shortcomings of the local municipal government, enhance sewage treatment capacity, protect the coastal ecology, and ensure the sustainable development of the cultural and tourism industry. The four projects are a vivid practice of China Cambodia diamond cooperation, deeply connecting Cambodia's development needs, and coordinating short-term livelihood and long-term strategies. Next, both sides will accelerate full process cooperation and build a 24/7 community of shared future between China and Cambodia in the new era with tangible achievements.Editor/Gong Ziwei