Sihanouk’s vision for Cambodia’s economic development
Sihanouk’s vision for Cambodia’s economic development
King Father Norodom Sihanouk devoted his life to Cambodia’s political independence and was committed to economic development.
In March 1955, he gave up the throne to his father, Suramarit, to deepen his involvement in governance. He formed a political party, won the general election, and became prime minister to lead the government. Sihanoukville is a microcosm of his vision for national economic construction.
After Cambodia’s independence, the existing Kampot Port was not deep enough for modern trade. Recognising the need for a deeper and more capable port, Sihanouk embarked on a plan to construct a new deep-water port.
Kompong Som, a serene fishing village nestled in the Gulf of Thailand, was selected for its suitable depth and strategic location. Sihanouk meticulously planned both the port and the surrounding city, envisioning a vibrant hub of trade and activity. The city, named Sihanoukville in his honour, has since grown to become a significant urban centre. Meanwhile, Kompong Som Port has retained its status as the only deep-water port in Cambodia.
Sihanouk encountered numerous obstacles in his efforts to promote national development. During the port’s construction, he sought assistance from the United States in building a road or railway connecting Phnom Penh and Kompong Som. However, Washington demanded that Cambodia demonstrate its “willingness to cooperate” and accept their “protection” as a precondition for providing aid.
This experience served as a stark reminder for Sihanouk that the seemingly “generous” and “friendly” military assistance offered by the United States was not only conditional but also toxic and insulting.
During the war in Cambodia, Sihanouk’s exile caused the city to be renamed Kompong Som. However, upon his return as king in 1993, the city was once again renamed Sihanoukville.
Thanks to the neutrality and peace Sihanouk advocated, Cambodia embarked on the fast track of economic development after restoring peace. In 2004, the Cambodian government proposed the “Rectangular Strategy” for national development, identifying Sihanoukville as a priority.
In 2008, King Sihamoni upgraded Sihanoukville to Sihanoukville Province. In recent years, it has been listed as a multifunctional economic demonstration zone and has emerged as a new economic engine for Cambodia, attracting international investments and tourists. The city has undergone tremendous changes, with large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects, high-rise buildings, a new deep-water wharf under construction at Sihanoukville Port, Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, and island development in the surrounding areas.
After the new Cambodian government came into power in 2023, the “Pentagonal Strategy” was launched. It focuses on human resource development, economic diversification, private sector and employment growth, resilience, sustainable development, and digital transformation. The government has also set a goal of becoming one of the upper-middle-income countries by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.
The economic construction that Sihanouk was committed to promoting is bearing fruit. Over the past 30 years, Cambodia’s average economic growth rate has exceeded 6 percent, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia. The latest official data in 2024 showed that Cambodia’s per capita annual income reached $1,600-1,700. Sihanoukville leads the country with a per capita annual income exceeding $4,200.
LONG-LASTING CAMBODIA-CHINA FRIENDSHIP
China and Cambodia are close neighbours. China’s Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence aligns with Sihanouk’s principle of “neutrality,” setting the stage for the establishment of bilateral ties.
At the Bandung Conference in 1955, Sihanouk formed a lasting friendship with Premier Zhou Enlai. Since the official establishment of Cambodia-China diplomatic relations in July 1958, Sihanouk remained committed to fostering Cambodia-China friendship and forged closer bonds with Chinese leaders of several generations.
In the 1950s and 1960s, China and Cambodia collaborated on various economic projects. China assisted Cambodia in establishing enterprises in textile production, plywood, paper, cement, and glassware manufacturing. Sihanouk once said that this laid a real industrial foundation for Cambodia and enabled it to achieve industrialization based on local materials, processing, and direct service to the people.
In September 1965, Sihanouk and his wife visited China. Premier Zhou Enlai went to Chongqing to welcome them and took a river journey together through the Three Gorges. Inspired by the hospitality, Sihanouk composed the song “Nostalgia of China” to express his gratitude to the Chinese government and people.
This profound relationship led Sihanouk to choose China as his place of long-term exile during his most challenging periods. The Chinese government and people strongly supported Sihanouk’s struggle to resist foreign aggression and safeguard national independence and sovereignty.
Recalling the friendship, Sihanouk once said, “There has never been any problem or cloud in the Cambodia-China friendship, which has benefited my country and people.”
The strong bond between the two countries, created by earlier generations of leaders, continues to grow in the new era. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has aligned with Cambodia’s “Rectangular Strategy” in areas such as agriculture, energy and transportation. This synergy has unlocked economic potential and written a new chapter in China-Cambodia economic and trade cooperation.
One landmark achievement is the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway (PPSHV Expressway), a key project under the initiative. Construction started in 2019 and opened to traffic in October 2022, making the PPSHV Expressway Cambodia’s first expressway.
The 187.05-km highway reduces travel time between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville from five hours to under two, bringing convenience to the Cambodian people.
After the new Cambodian government proposed the “Pentagonal Strategy” in 2023, China and Cambodia issued a joint communique to promote the alignment of the BRI with the “Pentagonal Strategy,” deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and achieve high-quality and sustainable common development of the two countries.
In the suburbs of Sihanoukville, the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone, known as the model for pragmatic cooperation between China and Cambodia, is being updated to version 2.0.
Today, the China-Cambodia friendship continues to flourish. Through practical cooperation, the two countries are building a community with a shared future in a new era, which benefits both peoples.
Sihanouk’s dedication to independence and his unwavering pursuit of national interests remain his most remarkable spiritual heritage. These values, reflected in his initiatives for national liberation, economic construction, and neutral diplomacy, have become a guiding light for the country’s future.
As Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said, Sihanouk is both a national hero and a symbol of national unity in the eyes of Cambodians.
