China, Cambodia Pledge Deeper Cooperation in New Energy, AI

Summary

Premier Li Qiang held talks in Beijing on 16 July 2026 with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who was in China for the World AI Conference and a working visit. Li described the bilateral relationship as an 'ironclad friendship' and expressed China's readiness to advance the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework, push forward major infrastructure projects,

expand trade, and deepen collaboration in emerging sectors such as new energy and artificial intelligence. Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to a friendly policy toward China, adherence to the One-China principle,

and willingness to strengthen cooperation across various fields.

Commentary

The talks highlight a shift toward emerging sectors like new energy and AI, which will accelerate production integration between China and Cambodia in Southeast Asia. For New Zealand SMEs, the expansion of Cambodia's photovoltaic and EV assembly industries could intensify competition in the Asia-Pacific green supply chain, pushing NZ firms to differentiate through clean-tech services. Meanwhile, Cambodia's digital transformation is creating demand in smart agriculture and fintech, offering opportunities for NZ SaaS providers to enter a growing market.

As an RCEP member, Cambodia's manufacturing upgrade, backed by Chinese infrastructure investment, is expected to lower regional logistics costs. NZ SMEs looking to expand into ASEAN can assess supply chain routes via Cambodia into the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Keywords: Li Qiang, Hun Manet, Cambodia, China-Cambodia relations, ironclad friendship, Diamond Hexagon, World AI Conference, new energy, digital economy, cooperation

Source: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand