PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is actively pursuing enhanced agricultural cooperation with China’s Yunnan Province, specifically seeking support for transporting Cambodian agricultural products to China and attracting Chinese investment into Cambodia’s agro-processing sector.
This strategic push was the focus of a meeting on July 21st in Phnom Penh between H.E. Prak David, Secretary of State at MAFF, and H.E. Wang Xiangang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province.
During their discussion, Secretary of State Prak David highlighted existing successful agricultural collaborations between Cambodia and China, particularly with Yunnan. He emphasized the considerable potential to expand joint agribusiness ventures and agricultural research.
A key point of H.E. Prak David’s proposal was securing Yunnan’s support for the transportation of Cambodian agricultural products to China via land and high-speed rail through Laos.
This would provide crucial logistical pathways for Cambodian produce. Furthermore, he encouraged the Yunnan delegation to actively attract Chinese investors to Cambodia, with a focus on investing in facilities for processing and exporting potential agricultural products to both China and other international markets, particularly leveraging the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
In response, H.E. Wang Xiangang expressed his full support for the ministry’s proposals. He acknowledged that these initiatives would play a vital role in further expanding agricultural trade between Cambodia and Yunnan Province, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic ties.