Cambodia Benefits from Rivalry in the Region

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong led an official delegation to Washington on June 12 for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other U.S. officials. The one-day visit preceded a key Asian regional security meeting set to take place in Cambodia in July.

Cambodia, which has made substantial gains in political stability during the past decade, is steadily making an economic recovery by focusing on low value-added exports. Cambodia's small yet growing economy and its strategic location on the Gulf of Thailand make it the object of a quiet struggle between the United States and China, as well as a destination for investment from other countries in the region. As foreign powers vie for influence and investment opportunities in Cambodia, the country and Prime Minister Hun Sen's government stand to benefit.