On January 13, 2024, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Cambodia Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Noting that both China and Cambodia are ancient civilizations with splendid cultures, Li Qiang said the friendship between the two peoples has a long history. Chinese navigator Zheng He made a stop in Cambodia during maritime expeditions. The carvings on the remains of the Bayon Temple depict scenes of interactions between the people of the two countries a thousand years ago, providing a vivid portrayal of the history of friendly exchanges between the two countries. At present, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and the leadership of Cambodia, the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future has entered a new era characterized by high quality, high level and high standards, with increasingly deepening political mutual trust, accelerating practical cooperation, and thriving people-to-people and cultural exchanges, which have brought tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Noting that the people-to-people exchange serves as an important pillar for the China-Cambodia "diamond hexagon" cooperation framework, Li Qiang expressed the hope that both sides will take the China-Cambodia Year of People-to-People Exchange as an opportunity to hold more activities for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, work together to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, further deepen cooperation in such fields as cultural heritage protection, art, education, medical and health care, and at the sub-national level, promote mutual visits by tourists, increase youth exchanges, and open up new prospects for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, so as to contribute to the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and jointly build a model of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

On the same day, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Cambodia Year of People-to-People Exchanges.