China, Cambodia hold 1st 'two-plus-two' ministerial talks

PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) -- China and Cambodia held their first "two-plus-two" meeting of foreign and defense ministers on Wednesday, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun in the Southeast Asian country for the talks.

Cambodia relies on China for its national security, with Chinese naval vessels making routine port calls at Ream Naval Base in the country's southwest. It recently received a Chinese-made warship.

Cambodia, which clashed militarily with neighboring Thailand twice last year, is said to be eager for closer ties with China.

In Wednesday's talks, Wang and Dong met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

The officials of the two sides aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported, adding that the Chinese ministers also met with Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on the same day.

The two countries agreed to launch "two-plus-two" meetings when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Cambodia in April 2025.