Chongqing - Soeung Rathchavy, Cambodia's ambassador to China, shared her views on how the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year will strengthen bilateral relations during an interview with Bridging News on May 18. 

Soeung emphasized the importance of the necessary skills and expertise to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. With this in mind, Cambodia and China have prioritized promoting educational exchanges.

For example, the Cambodian government has expanded its scholarship programs to support talent development at the undergraduate and doctoral levels.

This year has been designated the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year and the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Soeung noted that the Cambodian government sees cultural exchanges with China as a key initiative and is actively building a China-Cambodia cultural network that facilitates cultural events and academic interactions.

Additionally, a direct flight between Phnom Penh and Chongqing, launched in January 2024, operates twice a week on Mondays and Saturdays, facilitating the flow of tourists. 

Soeung expressed her hope that this direct flight will enhance people-to-people connectivity between Cambodia and China and boost tourism and business.

(Ma Manlin, Zhou Junjie, and Zhou Xinxin, as interns, also contributed to this report.)