Cambodia announces USD 100 million in military aid from China

A Cambodian defence official says China has agreed to provide more than USD 100 million in military aid to the Southeast Asian nation, a close political ally.

Defence Ministry spokesman Gen. Chhum Socheat said today that the aid for training, exercise and equipment was agreed upon over the weekend in a meeting between visiting Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh.

Wei yesterday also met with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Wei's five-day trip was undertaken to strengthen military ties and attend a China-Cambodia military exhibition. It concludes tomorrow.

China is Cambodia's closest political ally and a major economic supporter, wooing it into its sphere of influence with millions of dollars in aid and investment over the past decade.