Cambodia and Asian giant China are set to formally reach a Memorandum of Understanding in Phnom Penh this coming Monday to strengthen bilateral ties in the field of sports cooperation and competition.

China’s Sports Minister and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee Lui Peng and Cambodia’s Tourism Minister and chief of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia Thong Khon will initial the historic document which will pave the way for a sustained partnership between the two countries.

“The relationship between China and Cambodia has always been strong and it dates back to the 1960s,” NOCC Secretary General Vath Chamroeun told The Post yesterday.

“China being a sports super power has been helping us a great deal. Unfortunately, the ties were cut after the turmoil in the 1970s.

“It has now been revived after a lapse of nearly 40 years. The MOU will help Cambodia get better and deeper access to China’s superior manpower and wealth of expertise in both training and competition.”

The NOCC official noted that Chinese coaches were helping Cambodian sportsmen in various disciplines before the Khmer Rouge regime.

“The national tennis team trained in China for nearly a year those days,” he said.

“In fact, the Chinese had even donated a sports village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. It no longer exists but it is a reminder of the strong sporting links the two countries had.”