Cambodia opens consulate general in Hainan

The consulate general of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Haikou officially opened on Thursday, making Cambodia the first country to open a consulate general in China's tropical Hainan province since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The establishment of Cambodia's consulate general in Haikou will inject new impetus into the development of China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnership while enhancing cooperation and personnel exchanges between Hainan and Cambodia, said Cui Aimin, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the opening ceremony, which drew more than 200 guests including officials and representatives from various social circles.

Cui said it will also help upgrade Hainan's internationalization level, and play an active role in developing China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone and free trade ports with Chinese characteristics.

Shen Xiaoming, governor of the South China island province, said the establishment of the Cambodian consulate general in Haikou was a fresh sample of co-development and sharing between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Hainan was making orderly progress in FTZ construction and research and designing of policies governing the free trade port was underway. The efforts will create huge space for intensified cooperation which will benefit more people in the two countries, he said.

Khek Caimealy Sysoda, Cambodia ambassador to China, said the Cambodia-China friendship relations have been continuously strengthened and developed in the past 61 years. She said government of Cambodia hopes that the establishment of the consulate general in Haikou will further promote exchanges in tourism, culture, investment and trade sectors between the two countries.

Wang Sheng, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan province, said the consulate general of Cambodia in Haikou will serve as an platform and engine in promoting practical cooperation between Hainan and ASEAN countries, in such fields as tropical agriculture, education, science and technology, tourism, interconnection, economy and trade.

In recent years, China has become Cambodia's largest source of international tourists and Hainan has to date opened five direct routes to Cambodia.

The Southeast Asian nation attracted 1.7 million Chinese tourists during the first eight months this year, up 33 percent over the same period of last year and accounting for 39 percent of the total foreign arrivals to the country during the January-August period, said the latest report from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday.