China has promised to help Cambodia crack down on illegal online gambling and illegal cross-border gambling as part of efforts to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two Asian nations.
Tackling transnational crime, specifically illegal gambling, human trafficking and drugs, was among the key topics outlined by Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian during a press briefing this week following the recent visit of Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen to China.
“We are committed to working with the Cambodian authorities. We must prevent and crack down on transnational crime, human trafficking, drugs, illegal online gambling and other crimes,” said Wang, as reported by The Khmer Times.
The ambassador also called for continued cooperation in the sharing of information between law enforcement officials.
China has long held sway over Cambodia’s gambling industry, urging Hun Sen’s 2019 directive that saw the nation’s many online gambling licenses deemed null and void as of 1 January 2020.
Cambodia has also been pushing to clean up the coastal town of Sihanoukville following damning reports of human trafficking – many linked to the city’s sprawling array of casinos.
Chou Bun Eng, chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking, told The Khmer Times last month that crime rates in Sihanoukville have been decreasing.