Resist protectionism, Chinese president tells Cambodia

PHNOM PENH: China's leader Xi Jinping urged Cambodia to "resist protectionism," as he arrived in Phnom Penh on Thursday at the end of a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, as US tariffs threatened the economies of both countries.

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Cambodia is a major exporter of clothing and footwear to the United States, and was slapped with a rate of 49%, one of the highest globally, before "reciprocal" duties were paused until July for most countries, except those on China which faces combined tariffs of 145%.

In an article published on Thursday morning in Cambodian media, Xi urged Phnom Penh to oppose "hegemonism" and "protectionism," repeating messages he sent earlier this week to Vietnam and Malaysia during the first two legs of his trip.

Phnom Penh is a close partner of China, which has invested billions of dollars in projects including roads and airports, and is the country's largest creditor.