Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will pay an official visit to Japan later this month, and it is considered a good opportunity for Cambodian leaders to attract trade, investment and strengthen cooperation with Japan to be deeper and stronger.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website said that the Prime Minister and his wife Pech Chanmoni will pay an official visit to Japan from May 28 to 31. During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to discuss bilateral relations and also discuss regional and international issues. The President’s visit will further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Japan is currently Cambodia’s fifth largest trading partner. Therefore, it is hoped that after the President’s state visit, trade and investment relations between Cambodia and Japan will further develop. Cambodia is looking to Japan as an important market for expanding its global market for Cambodian goods, as trade negotiations with the United States to reduce tariffs are still unclear.
While the US market may be difficult in the future due to tariff pressure, Cambodia must aim to open up its market and diversify with other trading partners. Japan is also a potential market. So hopefully, President Hun Sen’s visit next week will bring positivity.
Attracting Japanese investment and expanding export markets to Japan are the main agendas that are of most interest. Among the top five trading partners, Japan is on the list, below Thailand, Vietnam, the United States and China. According to data from the General Department of Customs and Excise, in the first four months of 2025, trade between Cambodia and Japan exceeded $832 million, an increase of nearly 30 percent compared to the same period last year.
During this period, Cambodia’s exports to Japan amounted to $523 million, an increase of nearly 20 percent. At the same time, imports from Japan to Cambodia were worth more than $308 million, an increase of nearly 51 percent. The Japanese market for Cambodia includes clothing, bags, shoes, furniture, cosmetics, paper products, office supplies, and leather, and imports include machinery, cars, electronics, furniture, fabrics, and plastic products.
In terms of investment, Japan may now be a top investment destination, but the scale of investment in Cambodia is not yet as large as China and other countries in the region, especially compared to China, South Korea, neighboring countries, and ASEAN. In the past, regarding relations with Japan, the President has always highly appreciated Japan’s contributions, especially in the fields of infrastructure, education and peacebuilding, and has expressed strong support for the growth of cooperation between the two nations, especially in the field of security.
In addition to the working visit, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, the President also hopes to take the opportunity to participate in the 30th International Conference on “The Future of Asia” organized by Nikkei Inc. in Tokyo. The event is an opportunity for the King to highlight the potential and avenues for strengthening trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. Another hope is to attract tourists, as Japan is also an important foreign tourist market for Southeast Asia.
The forum is a rare golden opportunity for the King to share with the participants, who are Japanese politicians, business leaders, and experts, an understanding of Cambodia’s vision and potential.
In summary, the President’s visit to Japan next week is a rare opportunity, prepared at the right time, for Cambodia to explain how Cambodia can benefit from win-win cooperation in trade and investment, as well as tourism, as Japan is an important market and a gateway to reduce the impact on trade that may occur after the delay in the implementation of the retaliatory tariffs imposed by the United States.
Cambodia and Japan are looking forward to a bright future together in both political and economic aspects, such as trade, investment and tourism.
