Cambodia-China Should Jointly Combat Illegal Activities: Analyst
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 22, 2024. Photo by Ra Ni/Xinhua
- By Thien Phearin
- April 23, 2024 7:10 PM
PHNOM PENH – Joint actions between Cambodia and China to crack down on illegal activities such as online gambling, fraud, human trafficking and criminal gangs is crucial for Cambodia, as the country needs peace and stability, said Kin Phea, the director general of the International Relations Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
Such a call was launched during the official visit to Cambodia of China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which ended on April 23.
During the visit, the two countries held talks on the necessity to crack down on illegal activities such as online gambling, telecommunications fraud, and human trafficking. Wang Yi also called for the eradication of criminal gangs operating in Cambodia.
The rise of such illegal activities over the past five years has tarnished Cambodia’s image which has been seen as a safe haven for criminals. Chinese police concluded the repatriation of over 680 gambling, scam suspects from Cambodia on April 21.
Kin Phea said that Cambodia needs China to eradicate the scamming industry in its territory, arguing that the fight against such transnational illegal activities needs strong nation-to-nation cooperation to be successful.
“Cooperation between Cambodia and China in the fight against all illegal activities is a good thing, because Cambodia needs peace and stability,” said Kin Phea.
He continued that other crimes must be eradicated to attract foreign investors and tourists to visit Cambodia.
Wang Yi's visit is essential and significant for bilateral relations between Cambodia and China, said Kin Phea, adding that the trip will boost the two countries' fruitful interests in the context of politics, strategy, economics and people-to-people relations.
According to a joint press release on Wang Yi's visit to Cambodia, the two sides agreed that Cambodia and China are ironclad friends who support and help each other in difficult times. China also reiterated its support for Cambodia in choosing a development path in line with its national interests.
