China's Aid to Cambodia Helps Cement Ties

KAMPONG SVAY, Cambodia—When Asia-Pacific leaders gather this weekend in Southeast Asia—a bright spot in a sputtering global economy—their Cambodian hosts may extend a warm welcome to U.S. President Barack Obama, but they will view officials from Beijing as old friends.

Mr. Obama's visit to Cambodia—this year's host for the East Asia Summit—will be a first for a sitting president. But for Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his colleagues, a trip to Phnom Penh is old hat after 15 years of diplomacy, aid, loans and investments.

"Cambodia understands that China has been its largest benefactor over the years," said Li Mingjiang, ...

Sourced: online.wsj