Chinese President Xi Jinping has completed a two-day state visit to Cambodia, capping a three-nation tour that included stops in Vietnam and Malaysia at a time when all three Southeast Asian countries are facing economic challenges from U.

In Cambodia, there was also a dire need to end the uncertainty over funding. Phnom Penh has developed a heavy reliance on Chinese money in recent years and moved firmly into Beijing’s orbit as a proxy within ASEAN and as a strategic ally through its Ream Naval Base.