BEIJING: China's top diplomat Wang Yi called for the complete eradication of scam centres in Cambodia during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh, according to Beijing's foreign ministry.
Cambodia hosts dozens of scam centres with tens of thousands of people perpetrating online scams -- some willingly and others trafficked -- in a multibillion-dollar illicit industry, rights monitors say.
But under pressure from several countries, including China, Cambodian authorities say they are cracking down on the industry.
"Cross-border gambling and fraud endanger the lives and property of the people and must be resolutely cracked down on and completely eradicated," Wang told Hun Manet, China's foreign ministry said in a statement late Wednesday (April 22).
China and Cambodia maintain close trade, diplomatic and military ties. Wang, who was accompanied by Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, also underlined the two countries' "unbreakable bond" during the meeting.
Hun Manet told AFP in February that scam centres were destroying his country's economy and giving the nation a bad name, vowing to "clean this out".
He wrote on social media late Wednesday that he, Wang and Dong had discussed promoting cooperation in politics, trade and investment, national defence and security, clean energy, transportation infrastructure construction and agriculture.
Wang and Dong also met Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defence Minister Tea Seiha on Wednesday.
The Chinese foreign minister said he supported initiatives aimed at normalising relations between Cambodia and Thailand following deadly clashes last year along their shared border.
"China is willing to continue to build more platforms for the resumption of exchanges and direct dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand," Wang said.
While a ceasefire was agreed to in December, the regional situation remains fragile, with Cambodia and Thailand accusing each other of failing to respect the truce. - AFP
