Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay a working visit to China from 15 to 17 July at the invitation of the Chinese government, Phnom Penh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on 13 July. The premier will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing before travelling to Shanghai to address the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC). The delegation includes three deputy prime ministers, senior ministers and a sizeable business contingent focused on digital infrastructure, smart manufacturing and renewable energy—sectors spotlighted in Cambodia’s Industrial Development Policy 2025-35. Meetings with Chinese investors have been scheduled on the conference sidelines, underscoring Beijing’s role as Cambodia’s largest source of FDI. For mobility professionals, the visit will generate a spike in diplomatic and charter traffic on the Beijing–Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh–Shanghai corridors. China’s visa-free policy for Cambodian nationals (30 days, unilateral) and a special fast-track lane for WAIC participants mean most delegates will enter without visas, but organisers caution that hotel capacity near the Shanghai Expo Centre is already limited.
![Cambodian Prime Minister to Lead Large Delegation to Shanghai World AI Conference]()
For delegates or accompanying media from countries that still require entry clearance, VisaHQ can expedite the paperwork. Its dedicated China portal offers step-by-step guidance, digital form filing, and courier options, enabling mobility teams to secure visas quickly while keeping their focus on core event logistics.
The trip is also the first high-level exchange under the Cambodia–China ‘Diamond Cooperation Framework’ signed last year. Analysts expect announcements on digital-economy talent exchanges and potentially an expanded quota for Cambodian professionals under China’s R (and) D residence-permit scheme, moves that could further ease mobility for tech workers between the two countries.
For delegates or accompanying media from countries that still require entry clearance, VisaHQ can expedite the paperwork. Its dedicated China portal offers step-by-step guidance, digital form filing, and courier options, enabling mobility teams to secure visas quickly while keeping their focus on core event logistics.
The trip is also the first high-level exchange under the Cambodia–China ‘Diamond Cooperation Framework’ signed last year. Analysts expect announcements on digital-economy talent exchanges and potentially an expanded quota for Cambodian professionals under China’s R (and) D residence-permit scheme, moves that could further ease mobility for tech workers between the two countries.
