Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Hun Manet, reaffirming the stance that online fraud centers and transnational gambling must be uprooted. They also agreed to advance cooperation in defense and cybersecurity.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on 22 Apr 2024 GMT+7. The main topic was Wang’s call for Cambodia to accelerate the crackdown and eradication of "online scam centers" within its borders.
Wang Yi candidly stated, "Transnational gambling and online fraud threaten the lives and property of the people; therefore, they must be suppressed decisively and eradicated completely." This statement comes amid human rights reports that Cambodia serves as a base for numerous call center gangs involving tens of thousands of individuals, some willingly, others deceived, engaged in illegal businesses worth billions of dollars.
Prime Minister Hun Manet affirmed that these illicit industries are damaging the economy and tarnishing the nation’s reputation. He pledged to "cleanse" these businesses successfully. Additionally, during discussions with Wang Yi and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, both sides agreed to tighten cooperation in law enforcement, national defense, and cybersecurity.
Beyond the call center issue, Wang Yi also met with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, emphasizing China’s support for restoring Cambodia-Thailand relations through dialogue and existing cooperation mechanisms, and offered to mediate constructive communication between the two parties.
Furthermore, China reaffirmed its support for Cambodia’s development in economic growth, public welfare, humanitarian aid, and poverty alleviation projects, while promoting cooperation under China’s global initiative frameworks.
The Chinese defense minister stated readiness to strengthen military security trust with Cambodia. Meanwhile, the Cambodian side emphasized that China is their most reliable ally and reiterated their steadfast commitment to the "One China" policy.
This visit underscores the "ironclad" relationship between China and Cambodia across diplomatic, trade, and military dimensions. Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn praised China as the "most trustworthy friend" and expressed gratitude for the comprehensive support from the Chinese government to Cambodia.