Cambodia, a country renowned for its rich culture, tourism attractions, and diverse agricultural products, has been expanding its export markets and promoting tourism through its participation in the annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) since 2018.

As a major global rice exporter, Cambodia has been actively seeking opportunities to expand into international markets. At the sixth CIIE, Cambodian jasmine rice featured at the Cambodian pavilion garnered interest from buyers, sparking inquiries about pricing and future collaborations.

Oknha Song Saran, chairman of the board of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), said there had been an increase of Cambodian rice exports to China following its presence at the CIIE. "I believe Cambodian rice will become more and more popular in China," he said.

Lun Yeng, secretary general of CRF, also agreed that the CIIE has played a significant role in promoting the export of Cambodian rice to China. "We hope more Chinese consumers will enjoy pollution-free Cambodian rice through the CIIE."

According to data released by CRF in January, Cambodia exported a total of over 650,000 metric tons of rice in 2023, with 212,800 tons being shipped to China. China has become the largest market for Cambodian rice exports.

In addition to rice, Cambodia is also a significant mango production hub in Southeast Asia, blessed with ample sunshine and abundant rainfall that contribute to the fruit's delicate texture and rich aroma.

In May 2021, a refrigerated container cargo ship carrying fresh Keo Romeat mangoes from Cambodia docked at Qinzhou Port in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, marking the first-ever export of Cambodian fresh mangoes to China. Mangoes, following bananas, became the second fresh fruit directly exported from Cambodia to China.

While the export of mangoes to China is a significant milestone, the true turning point came with the 4th CIIE held six months later, when Cambodian mangoes were promoted at the expo and drew much interest from buyers.

Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association, said that Cambodian fresh mangoes will become widespread in the Chinese market and around the world through the CIIE.

The CIIE has not only stimulated exports of Cambodian agricultural products but has also showcased the country's abundant tourism attractions. Cambodia Angkor Air, for instance, made its debut at the 5th CIIE, highlighting iconic elements of Cambodian culture such as the intricate Apsara carvings from Angkor Wat.

"Chinese tourists enjoy traveling to Cambodia and visiting Angkor Wat," said Yin Zheng, general manager of the Cambodia Angkor Air Shanghai representative office. "We hope to build an air bridge connecting the two countries by leveraging the CIIE to facilitate cultural and tourism exchanges," Yin added.

According to Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism, in the first quarter of this year, Cambodia attracted 190,000 visitor arrivals from China, up 43 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Ticket revenue from Angkor Wat increased by 38.2 percent year-on-year.

Penn Sovicheat, the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's secretary of state and spokesperson, appreciated that the CIIE demonstrates China's unwavering commitment to boosting global trade, promoting multilateralism, and opening up its market to the outside world.

Due to the huge potential of the Chinese market, Cambodia has confirmed its participation in the 7th CIIE, aiming to enhance partnerships and foster collaborations with China.

Sources: People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Economic Daily, chinanews.com, rmlt.com.cn, China Tourism News, Knews, Orient International, Yunnan Daily, WeChat account of related firms, Khmer Times