The minister of commerce, Pan Sorasak, met with officials from the Chinese-based Jilin Provincial Investment Group Co Ltd yesterday to discuss strengthening rice-processing infrastructure in the Kingdom.

This is the second Chinese company to visit with the Ministry of Commerce in last three days leading up to today’s arrival of the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On Monday, the ministry met with China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) to create a draft agreement for the export of 200,000 tonnes of rice to China this year.

Sok Puthyvuth, president of Cambodian Rice Federation, told the Post yesterday that the discussions showed promise that Chinese commitment would pull through.

Analysts hope that the Chinese president will solidify a $300 million loan request for rice infrastructure.