Chinese Investment in Cambodia Reaches USD 36 Billion Over 35 Years

• 18 April 2025
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Over the last 35 years, Chinese investments in Cambodia have surged to approximately USD 36 billion, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Speaking at a special forum titled “Cambodia-China Steel Friendship in the New Era: Win-Win Cooperation and Common Prosperity,” HE Hoeun Samnieng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, highlighted the importance of this cooperation.

From the early 1990s until early 2025, China has emerged as a primary source of investment in Cambodia, particularly in the last five years, where it has consistently ranked as the top or second-largest contributor to private investments. In 2024, Chinese investments reached approximately USD 3.42 billion, accounting for nearly 50% of Cambodia’s total investment capital.

The Deputy Secretary-General attributed this growth to robust bilateral cooperation, facilitating substantial private sector investment and development assistance. China has provided nearly USD 6 billion in official development aid to Cambodia since the 1990s, underscoring the ongoing partnership between the two countries.

In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Cambodia welcomed 172 new investment projects, with a total capital investment of around USD 2.5 billion. A remarkable 56.23% of this investment originated from China, reaffirming its position as a key player in Cambodia’s economic landscape. (Read more)

Trade relations between the two nations have also seen a significant boost. According to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE), the total volume of goods traded between Cambodia and China reached USD 4.07 billion in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 26.7% increase from the previous year. This trade accounted for nearly 30% of Cambodia’s international trade volume, totalling USD 14.45 billion during the same period.

While exports from Cambodia to China saw a minor decline of 4.9%, totalling USD 348.19 million, imports from China surged by 30.8%, amounting to USD 3.72 billion.

As Cambodia continues strengthening its ties with China, these figures reflect the growing influence of Chinese investment and trade on the kingdom’s development trajectory.

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