Cambodia has officially waived visa requirements for Chinese travelers, prompting questions from countries including the United States, to which Cambodia has responded.
On June 15, Cambodia's visa-free policy for China officially took effect, with a validity period of four months and a stay duration of up to 14 days. This makes China the only country in Cambodian history to enjoy such a visa exemption.
In response to this move, several countries including the United States questioned Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism. In reply, Cambodian Minister of Tourism Khem Heng stated that China is Cambodia’s most important and special friend, with a long-standing relationship spanning over a millennium. He further noted that the visa-free period may be extended from four months to one year or even longer in the future.
For Cambodia, the primary goal of granting visa-free access to Chinese tourists is to boost economic growth and fiscal revenue during a period of global economic weakness. The country plans to welcome 600,000 Chinese tourists within four months and aims to push Sino-Cambodian trade beyond the $20 billion mark by 2026.
Although Cambodia has offered favorable conditions, traveler safety remains the foremost concern among all parties. Despite efforts to strengthen crime-fighting measures and improve its public security image, Cambodia still ranks 17th in the 2025 Global Organized Crime Index, representing a major obstacle to attracting tourists.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868033858741255/
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