Weeks away from signing a free-trade agreement with China, Cambodia confirmed participation in the third China International Import and Export Fair 2020 that runs from November 5-10 in Shanghai.

Cambodia hopes to seize opportunities to expand exports and attract investment following the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will be signed in mid-August.

Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak led a delegation to a Thursday videoconference with Sun Chenhai, Deputy-Director General of the China International Import and Export Bureau.

Sorasak said the China International Import and Export Fair is important for all participating countries as an opportunity to participate in promoting products, services and investment projects and to hold trade talks directly.

He said Cambodia is ready to participate.

“The Ministry of Commerce is ready to set up a Cambodian pavilion and lead the private sector to participate in this event, as it has done twice in the past,” Sorasak said.

Cambodia Rice Federation President Song Saran told The Post on Sunday that he attended the expo in 2018 and it was a platform to seek trading partners and investors.

“I will join this expo, it will be my third year in a row.

This is a big event, not only to exhibit our rice but attend the conference and sign contracts,” he said.

Trade between Cambodia and China reached more than $6 billion in 2018 and jumped to about $8 billion in 2019, based on figures from the Ministry of Commerce.

The two countries are committed to expanding bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2023.