On 21 April 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), met with H.E. Dr. Kung Phoak, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia and ASEAN SOM leader, in Phnom Penh. Director General Yeap Samnang of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia attended the meeting. 

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun congratulated Cambodia on its successful chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022. He stressed that ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China are committed to upholding the centrality of ASEAN, practicing open regionalism, advocating multilateralism, and jointly maintaining regional peace and stability. In recent years, ASEAN-China relations have entered into the fast lane, and our practical cooperation in various fields have yielded gratifying results. The first quarter of 2023 witnessed China's strong economic rebound, with the GDP growth rate exceeding expectations. This will surely bring more development opportunities to AMS including Cambodia. The ACC looks forward to further strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, implementing more projects together, and jointly securing a steady and quality growth of China-Cambodia and China-ASEAN relations in the post-pandemic era.

 Dr. Kung Phoak welcomed SG Shi's visit to Cambodia and said that the ACC has always been at the forefront of implementing important consensus among AMS and Chinese leaders, and promoting practical cooperation and exchanges in various fields since its establishment. The deepening of relations and advancement of cooperation between ASEAN and China stand best testimony to the ACC's merits, which are appreciated by AMS and Cambodia in particular. Under the new circumstances, Cambodia stands ready to consistently participate in and support the ACC's work, and looks forward to working with the ACC to promote Cambodia-China and ASEAN-China cooperation in such areas as economy, trade and investment, tourism, agriculture, poverty alleviation, disaster prevention and reduction, and public health, so as to contribute to the future green and low-carbon transition of ASEAN's economy, achieve a dynamic and resilient digital economy in the region, further deepen mutual trust and understanding between the peoples and press ahead with ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership with sustainability and productivity.