China ties 'improve Cambodia livelihoods'

PHNOM PENH－Chinese-funded enterprises have played an important role in improving local people's livelihood in Cambodia, according to the results of a new survey released last week. Entitled "China in Young Eyes", the survey was conducted last year by the Center for Cambodian Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, with support from China Huaneng Group.

It interviewed a total of 342 Cambodian youths, who are mainly undergraduates and postgraduates from the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the Royal University of Law and Economics, as well as researchers from the Royal Academy of Cambodia and independent think tanks.

The top 10 keywords describing the China-Cambodia relations in the survey are Belt and Road Initiative, Special Economic Zone, Chinese-developed vaccines, Chinese companies, expressways, hydropower stations, investment, Chinese language, "ironclad friends" and job opportunities.

"The survey results show that Cambodian youths generally believe that China is a responsible, big country, pursuing peaceful development, and Chinese-funded enterprises have played an important role in improving local people's livelihoods," says a joint news release.

The BRI and the Special Economic Zone are the top two keywords for Cambodian youths to describe the current Cambodia-China relations.

"Some 69.29 percent of the young Cambodians interviewed positively commented on the role played by Chinese-funded enterprises in Cambodia's economic development, and more than 70 percent of the respondents expressed their willingness to work in Chinese-funded enterprises," the news release states.

It adds that the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement, which came into force in January, has provided new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

More than 60 percent of the respondents gave a positive response to Chinese investment, and wanted to see more Chinese companies investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

The survey also found that China has become one of the most desirable destinations for Cambodian youths to study abroad, and the economy, science and technology, politics, and Chinese language are the priority subjects for Cambodian youths to study in China.

In addition, China is also one of the most popular destinations for Cambodian youths to travel abroad, the survey showed, adding that the pragmatic cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and Cambodia has greatly promoted Chinese language education in Cambodia.

"Cambodian youths interviewed generally believe that learning Chinese is conducive to generating employment opportunities," the news release says. "Most Cambodian youths also recognize the importance of Chinese-style poverty alleviation experiences in helping Cambodia eradicate poverty."

Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, says that the survey results show positive perceptions among Cambodian youths toward China and reveal the significance of Chinese-funded enterprises in helping boost Cambodia's economy.

"It is true that Chinese-backed projects under the BRI, such as the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, hydropower plants, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the new Siem Reap International Airport, roads and bridges, among others, have all played, and will continue to play, a crucial role in supporting the kingdom's economy in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era," he says.

"I think that the BRI projects here will help Cambodia achieve its ambitious goal of becoming an upper-middle income country by 2030 and a high-income country in 2050."

Xinhua