On
September 10, Cambodia officially opened the Techo International Airport, located less than 25 kilometers south of the capital Phnom Penh. Built with Chinese investment, the airport will replace Phnom Penh International Airport. With an
initial capacity of 13 million passengers and three runways, in comparison to
the old airport’s 5 million passenger capacity and single runway, Techo International Airport is clearly aimed at bolstering Cambodia’s tourism industry. In turn, these funds will drive economic growth for the Kingdom, which has seen a steady increase in Chinese tourists in
recent years.
China has been Cambodia’s
largest trading partner since
2012, and with the entry into force of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement in 2022, trade reached nearly $18 billion in
2024, albeit mostly made up of Chinese exports to Cambodia. This relationship has enabled mutually beneficial economic growth for both nations, and has served as a baseline for political, military, and other engagements.
From economic growth to joint military exercises, the relationship between China and Cambodia is rapidly becoming one of the most strategically significant partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region.
