Cambodia, China's COMAC Sign Strategic Cooperation MoU to Strengthen Civil Aviation Sector

Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on comprehensive strategic cooperation in civil aviation, aimed at strengthening Cambodia's aviation sector through technology transfer, human resource development, and technical cooperation. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet's working visit to China, where he attended the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference from July 15 to 17. The partnership will support Cambodia's civil aviation development through technology transfer, human resource training, airport maintenance development, and technical assistance. It is also expected to enhance the operational capacity of Cambodia's national carrier, Air Cambodia, expand air connectivity, and improve the Kingdom's regional competitiveness. In a meeting with Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet earlier on the same day, COMAC Chairman and President Shen Bo briefed the Prime Minister on COMAC's business operations and its cooperation with Cambodian partners. He said the company, which develops commercial aircraft including the C919 and C909 models, seeks to build long-term partnerships that extend beyond aircraft sales to include maintenance services and capacity-building programmes for Cambodia's civil aviation personnel. He noted that these initiatives are intended to ensure sustainable business operations while contributing to the modernisation of Cambodia's civil aviation sector. Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed COMAC's successful operations in Cambodia, particularly its partnership with Air Cambodia. The Premier expressed support for COMAC's strategic initiatives with the SSCA and Air Cambodia, especially programmes aimed at developing human resources, saying they would help modernise Cambodia's civil aviation industry and enhance its competitiveness at both the regional and global levels. He also reaffirmed the Royal Government's readiness to facilitate cooperation between COMAC and relevant Cambodian ministries and institutions, particularly the SSCA, to advance the implementation of the partnership. By C. Nika