Zhengzhou and Cambodia have formed a landmark deal to establish an agricultural cooperation demonstration zone, paving the way for shared innovation in rice cultivation, agricultural machinery and food security.

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and Zhengzhou Agricultural Development Group are working together to bring the cooperation agreement to fruition.

Sun Chanthol, the Cambodian deputy prime minister and former vice-chairman of CDC, emphasized the enduring friendship between Cambodia and China, highlighting the potential for processing assorted Cambodian products, such as cashews, rice and cassava, for export to China and the globe.

During his visit to Zhengzhou in March, he expressed hope that companies from Henan would invest in Cambodia to build factories that process agricultural products and jointly export them.

In February, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea expressed Cambodia's willingness to collaborate with China in innovative ways and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges during the closing ceremony of the Chinese and Cambodian Cultures Encounter in Zhengzhou, underlining the longstanding friendship and frequent interactions between the two nations.

Yang Zhe, assistant general manager of Zhengzhou Agricultural Development Group, said the planned agricultural cooperation demonstration zone in Cambodia marks a step towards developing collaboration in the agricultural sector.

Last year, the company imported pepper and cashews from Cambodia via direct flights to Zhengzhou, marking the entry of these products into the Henan market for the first time.

According to Yang, agricultural enterprises in Henan, covering various sectors, such as processing, seeds and agricultural machinery, have shown strong interest in investing and cooperating in Cambodia, as evidenced by their expressed needs and investment intentions.