Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn signed a new cooperation agreement with China today, receiving over $7 million to fund various projects discussed during the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation meeting last week in China.

A ministry press release announcing the funding states that 16 projects were approved "under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund framework".

The primary focus of the agreement is environmental, with funds going towards monitoring water quality, restoring forests and addressing land degradation.

The funds will also go towards reducing poverty in rural parts of Cambodia, and “Community Development Along Mekong River”, as well as a project listed as a “Buddhist Development Program” managing Theravada Buddhism along the Mekong.

Other projects address tourism, regional cooperation, and the spread of disease.

The agreement was signed by Sokhonn and Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo.

The funding follows a recent Japanese pledge of $28 million, signed on Wednesday, to fund the construction of teacher training centres in Phnom Penh and Battambang for the National Institute of Education.