Since 1989, Cambodia has cooperated with China to qualify how to shift into a free market economy and to launch an economic reform program privatizing state-owned enterprises, restoring private property rights, removing price controls, and encouraging foreign investment. In order to develop Cambodia, Hun Sen embraced China tightly in July 1997. China welcomed Hun Sen’s leadership of Cambodia and became the fi rst nation to offi cially recognize the legitimacy of its new government. Since then, the tight between Phnom Penh and Beijing had steadily improved. High-level from the two nations began aregular exchange of offi cial visits, and economic ties were strengthened (Radio Free Asia, 2019). Ties between the two countries continued to improve through activities over the past six decades, such as the exchanges of visits by top leaders of the two countries, exchanging arts performances among two countries’ artists; in 2008 and 2018, Cambodia and China celebrated the 50-year and 60-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, respectively.