Chinese Premier Le Keqiang – the No. 2 politician in the Chinese government – will visit Phnom Penh for an official visit next week.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Chum Sounry confirmed the leader will attend the second Mekong Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting next Wednesday and pay an official visit the next day.

The three-day summit comes at a time when Cambodia’s relationship with China is at an all-time high, as the Kingdom pivots away from its traditional pro-democracy Western partners in favour of Beijing’s no-strings-attached financial aid.

China, already Cambodia’s top foreign donor, has also publicly supported Cambodia’s crackdown on the opposition and independent political voices.

Keqiang will be accompanied by businesspeople looking for investment opportunities in Cambodia.