After a high-profile visit to China in early December, Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reinforced their "ironclad" ties, reaffirming mutual support for various development projects, including the highly-anticipated Funan Techo Canal. While both leaders pledged continued cooperation, uncertainty lingers regarding the actual funding for the $1.7 billion canal project, which is intended to connect the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand and reduce Cambodia's dependency on Vietnam for shipping routes.

During his visit, Hun Sen shared his gratitude for China’s support of the canal project but did not provide further details on whether that support would include financial backing. The canal, which forms a central part of both Cambodia's national development agenda and China's Belt and Road Initiative, faces delays and mounting concerns. Experts and critics have questioned the project’s long-term economic viability and raised alarms about its environmental impact, with no official funding confirmation from Beijing.

Despite these issues, Hun Sen’s visit highlighted the enduring importance of Cambodia's relationship with China, particularly in the context of global geopolitical shifts and economic challenges faced by both nations. While China has been a significant source of development assistance for Cambodia, with loans and infrastructure projects bolstering the country's growth, the flow of Chinese financial support has slowed, particularly with no new loans granted in the first half of 2024. This situation has left the Cambodian government seeking alternative sources of funding, and the stalled Funan Techo Canal project remains a key challenge as the country looks to sustain its ambitious development goals.