Phnom Penh and China's Hailun City Explore Sister City Ties to Boost Tourism and Economic Cooperation

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and Hailun City in the People's Republic of China are exploring the possibility of establishing sister city ties to further strengthen relations and promote cooperation, particularly in the tourism sector. The initiative was revealed during a meeting between Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng and Hailun City Vice Governor Han Senjian on the afternoon of July 20, 2026, at the Phnom Penh City Hall. Governor Khuong Sreng briefed the delegation on the general situation and recent development of Phnom Penh, highlighting the Royal Government's vision to transform Cambodia into an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. He noted that Cambodia and China have maintained diplomatic relations for over 60 years, and Phnom Penh has already established sister city relationships with several cities in China. Vice Governor Han Senjian stated that the purpose of his delegation's visit to Phnom Penh was to build a good cooperative relationship, especially to boost tourism and encourage the import of Cambodian fruits to Hailun City. He further elaborated that his province's tourism sector is highly attractive during the winter season, particularly in the city of Harbin. He also pointed out that Cambodia boasts the renowned Angkor Wat temples and numerous other tourist attractions, including Phnom Penh. Therefore, he proposed that Phnom Penh and Hailun City should collaborate in promoting these attractions to their respective citizens to further invigorate tourism in both cities. He also extended an invitation to Governor Khuong Sreng and his colleagues to visit Hailun City during the upcoming winter season. Governor Khuong Sreng suggested that Phnom Penh and Hailun City should consider signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their sister city relationship. He proposed assigning specialized officials to discuss the details of the MoU before seeking approval from the governments of both countries. In response to the invitation, the Governor indicated he would consider the possibility and a suitable time to lead a delegation to visit Hailun City in the future. This strengthened cooperation could bring opportunities for revitalizing Cambodia's tourism industry and expanding agricultural exports to the Chinese market. Given China's significance as a major trading partner and a key source of tourists for Cambodia, such sub-national level exchanges are expected to contribute to the deepening of bilateral ties.