Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will visit China this week and meet with President Xi Jinping, Beijing's foreign ministry announced Monday.

"At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang... Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14th to 16th," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement.

Hun Manet will also meet and hold talks with Premier Li Qiang and Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, she told a regular briefing.

Hun Manet took over from his father, the country's longtime leader Hun Sen, in August.

Phnom Penh became one of China's strongest allies in the region under Hun Sen, who ruled with an iron fist for almost four decades, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment.

The visit will be one of Hun Manet's first abroad since becoming prime minister, after he attended the summit of ASEAN leaders in Jakarta last week.

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"This will be Prime Minister Hun Manet's first official visit since taking office," Mao said Monday.&nbsp;

"It reflects the great importance that the new Cambodian government attaches to the development of China-Cambodia relations," she added, noting that 2023 will see the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia.

Beijing, Mao said, "looks forward to using this visit to plan for the future comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Cambodia".

It hopes to "achieve results as soon as possible, so as to build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," she added.

In August, Hun Manet met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the capital Phnom Penh, saying on his Telegram channel that the two had "pledged to promote cooperation between the two countries".

He also reaffirmed in a Facebook post his government's "unchanged position" towards the issue of Taiwan -- which Beijing claims as part of its territory -- and promised no interference in Chinese national affairs.

Wang also met his Cambodian counterpart and reaffirmed Beijing's "unwavering commitment" to respecting Cambodian sovereignty and conveyed China's support for the kingdom, according to a Cambodian foreign ministry statement.

His visit followed diplomatic clashes between Beijing and Manila over their claims to the South China Sea.

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China insisted a Philippine navy vessel grounded on a reef in the Spratly Islands be removed from the hotly contested waters, long a flashpoint between them, after the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at boats on a resupply mission last weekend.

Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is in talks with China about a code of conduct in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will visit China this week and meet with President Xi Jinping, Beijing's foreign ministry announced Monday. "At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will visit China this week and meet with President Xi Jinping, Beijing's foreign ministry announced Monday. "At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang... Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14th to 16th," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement. Hun Manet will also meet and hold talks with Premier Li Qiang and Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, she told a regular briefing. Hun Manet took over from his father, the country's longtime leader Hun Sen, in August. Phnom Penh became one of China's strongest allies in the region under Hun Sen, who ruled with an iron fist for almost four decades, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment. The visit will be one of Hun Manet's first abroad since becoming prime minister, after he attended the summit of ASEAN leaders in Jakarta last week. Also read | Typhoon Haikui batters China with seven days of heavy rainfall "This will be Prime Minister Hun Manet's first official visit since taking office," Mao said Monday. "It reflects the great importance that the new Cambodian government attaches to the development of China-Cambodia relations," she added, noting that 2023 will see the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia. Beijing, Mao said, "looks forward to using this visit to plan for the future comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Cambodia". It hopes to "achieve results as soon as possible, so as to build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," she added. In August, Hun Manet met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the capital Phnom Penh, saying on his Telegram channel that the two had "pledged to promote cooperation between the two countries". He also reaffirmed in a Facebook post his government's "unchanged position" towards the issue of Taiwan -- which Beijing claims as part of its territory -- and promised no interference in Chinese national affairs. Wang also met his Cambodian counterpart and reaffirmed Beijing's "unwavering commitment" to respecting Cambodian sovereignty and conveyed China's support for the kingdom, according to a Cambodian foreign ministry statement. His visit followed diplomatic clashes between Beijing and Manila over their claims to the South China Sea. Also watch | Apple lost $200 billion in two days after reports of iPhone ban in China China insisted a Philippine navy vessel grounded on a reef in the Spratly Islands be removed from the hotly contested waters, long a flashpoint between them, after the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at boats on a resupply mission last weekend. Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is in talks with China about a code of conduct in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cambodian PM to visit China, meet Xi this week: Beijing

Cambodia's King Norodom Sohamoni on Monday (August 7) appointed Hun Manet as the country's new leader. Hun Manet (45) is the son of Hun Sen who has ruled Cambodia for four decades. The transfer of power from father to son is being seen as continuation of repressive regime which is only handing the power down to the next generation. Hun Sen ruled Cambodia with an iron fist.

The royal decree said that the king "appoints Dr Hun Manet as the prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the 7th mandate of the parliament".

The appointment of Hun Manet came just days after his father's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) swept a general election. The victory was registered virtually unopposed.

Hun Manet's rise to the top post marks generational change but it is being widely expected that suppressing policies of the previous regime would continue.

<h2>Who is Hun Manet?</h2>

Hun Sen has five children and Hun Manet is the eldest. He was born on October 29, 1977.

His father poetically described the birth by saying that It was spirit emerging from a banyan tree in a flash of light that gave birth to his son.

Hun Manet is married to Pich Chanmony. She is the daughter of a prominent politician in Cambodia. The couple has three children.&nbsp;

<h2>Hun Manet education</h2>

Hun Manet is well-educated. He grew up in Phnom Penh. He joined Cambodian military in 1995. Much of his higher education took place in the United States and Britain.

In 1999, Hun Manet became the first Cambodian to graduate from the US military academy at West Point.

He then received a masters degree in economics from New York University in 2002. He went on to have PhD in economics from the University of Bristol.

<h2>Career in military and politics</h2>

Hun Manet rose up the ranks of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Some of the posts he held included those of deputy of his father's bodyguards, commander of counter-terrorism, commander of the army and deputy commander-in-chief.

Hun Manet also became head of the youth wing of the Cambodian People's Party and was part of its standing committee.&nbsp;

Hun Sen named Hun Manet as his choice to succeed him as leader. The Cambodian People's Party soon endorsed him as "future prime minister".&nbsp;

<h2>What are Hun Manet's political views?</h2>

Hun Manet has given very few media interviews which had given few clues about what vision he has for Cambodia and its 16 million population.

Hun Manet has mostly avoided lengthy speeches on campaign trail. He has in the past restricted himself mostly to smiling and waving at the crowds.

In a rally in the run-up to recent elections, he said a vote for CPP was a vote for bright future of Cambodia. He warned of unspecified "extremist" attempts to "destroy the election".

In the year 2015, Manet told the Australian Broadcasting Corp channel that Cambodia must preserve peace, stability and security "at any cost".

<h2>Will Hun Manet run government differently than his father?</h2>

Major world powers and world agencies are likely to keep a close watch on Hun Manet's rule. They will be watching to see if he maintains authoritarian status quo of his father or set off on a path of liberalisation that is closer to Western style of democracy.

Hun Sen has indicated that he expects his heir to rule in his own model.

Asked by the Phnom Penh Post if his son might govern differently, Hun Sen laughed.

"In what way? Any such divergence means disrupting peace and undoing the achievements of the older generation."

Hun Manet may have got the king's approval to become executive head of the country but a small formality still remains.

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For him to take up the mantle of upcoming leader of the country, the 45-year-old along with his team should secure a vote of confidence in Cambodian parliament. The confidence vote is scheduled for August 22.

It is expected that the administration under Hun Manet will usher in a new generation of leaders, some of whom will become ministers. There are likely to be some who will fill the posts vacated by previous generation of respective families.&nbsp;

<h2>So will Hun Sen retire from politics?</h2>

The veteran has affirmed that he would not be interfering in his son's governance, Hun Sen has hinted that passing on the mantle does not mean he will retire to political backstage.

The elections which took place in Cambodia last month drew condemnation from the United States, the European Union and even the United Nations. They said that the elections lacked fairness and freedom. Hun Sen has rejected the allegations and has asserted that his dynamic succession will ensure peace and prevent turmoil. The handing of the baton has been likened by some to political affairs in North Korea.

(With inputs from agencies)

Cambodia's King Norodom Sohamoni on Monday (August 7) appointed Hun Manet as the country's new leader. Hun Manet (45) is the son of Hun Sen who has ruled Cambodia for four decades.

Cambodia's King Norodom Sohamoni on Monday (August 7) appointed Hun Manet as the country's new leader. Hun Manet (45) is the son of Hun Sen who has ruled Cambodia for four decades. The transfer of power from father to son is being seen as continuation of repressive regime which is only handing the power down to the next generation. Hun Sen ruled Cambodia with an iron fist. The royal decree said that the king "appoints Dr Hun Manet as the prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the 7th mandate of the parliament". The appointment of Hun Manet came just days after his father's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) swept a general election. The victory was registered virtually unopposed. Hun Manet's rise to the top post marks generational change but it is being widely expected that suppressing policies of the previous regime would continue. Who is Hun Manet? Hun Sen has five children and Hun Manet is the eldest. He was born on October 29, 1977. His father poetically described the birth by saying that It was spirit emerging from a banyan tree in a flash of light that gave birth to his son. Hun Manet is married to Pich Chanmony. She is the daughter of a prominent politician in Cambodia. The couple has three children. Hun Manet education Hun Manet is well-educated. He grew up in Phnom Penh. He joined Cambodian military in 1995. Much of his higher education took place in the United States and Britain. In 1999, Hun Manet became the first Cambodian to graduate from the US military academy at West Point. He then received a masters degree in economics from New York University in 2002. He went on to have PhD in economics from the University of Bristol. Career in military and politics Hun Manet rose up the ranks of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Some of the posts he held included those of deputy of his father's bodyguards, commander of counter-terrorism, commander of the army and deputy commander-in-chief. Hun Manet also became head of the youth wing of the Cambodian People's Party and was part of its standing committee. Hun Sen named Hun Manet as his choice to succeed him as leader. The Cambodian People's Party soon endorsed him as "future prime minister". What are Hun Manet's political views? Hun Manet has given very few media interviews which had given few clues about what vision he has for Cambodia and its 16 million population. Hun Manet has mostly avoided lengthy speeches on campaign trail. He has in the past restricted himself mostly to smiling and waving at the crowds. In a rally in the run-up to recent elections, he said a vote for CPP was a vote for bright future of Cambodia. He warned of unspecified "extremist" attempts to "destroy the election". In the year 2015, Manet told the Australian Broadcasting Corp channel that Cambodia must preserve peace, stability and security "at any cost". Will Hun Manet run government differently than his father? Major world powers and world agencies are likely to keep a close watch on Hun Manet's rule. They will be watching to see if he maintains authoritarian status quo of his father or set off on a path of liberalisation that is closer to Western style of democracy. Hun Sen has indicated that he expects his heir to rule in his own model. Asked by the Phnom Penh Post if his son might govern differently, Hun Sen laughed. "In what way? Any such divergence means disrupting peace and undoing the achievements of the older generation." Hun Manet may have got the king's approval to become executive head of the country but a small formality still remains. Also Read | Cambodian king names Hun Sen's son as new PM in royal decree For him to take up the mantle of upcoming leader of the country, the 45-year-old along with his team should secure a vote of confidence in Cambodian parliament. The confidence vote is scheduled for August 22. It is expected that the administration under Hun Manet will usher in a new generation of leaders, some of whom will become ministers. There are likely to be some who will fill the posts vacated by previous generation of respective families. So will Hun Sen retire from politics? The veteran has affirmed that he would not be interfering in his son's governance, Hun Sen has hinted that passing on the mantle does not mean he will retire to political backstage. The elections which took place in Cambodia last month drew condemnation from the United States, the European Union and even the United Nations. They said that the elections lacked fairness and freedom. Hun Sen has rejected the allegations and has asserted that his dynamic succession will ensure peace and prevent turmoil. The handing of the baton has been likened by some to political affairs in North Korea. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Who is Hun Manet, the new Cambodian PM appointed by the king

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen kicked off a three-week election campaign on Saturday, with his party poised to sweep the one-sided contest after the top challenger was barred from taking part.

Cambodians will vote on July 23 in an election widely seen as a sham after authorities denied registration to the Candlelight Party -- considered the only viable rival to Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party.

Hun Sen -- who has ruled&nbsp;Cambodia&nbsp;for 38 years -- told a sea of tens of thousands of supporters dressed in party T-shirts and hats that his government would build more roads and schools while boosting wages and economic growth.

He also vowed to eradicate "hostile circles seeking to incite national division, social chaos and political instability".

"If the Cambodian People's Party wins, the Cambodian people are the winners," he told the crowd.

Hun Sen -- one of the world's longest-serving leaders -- has hinted he will retire in the near future.

He has backed his eldest son Hun Manet, a four-star general, to succeed him.

At Saturday's rally, he handed the party's flag to Hun Manet, who led a convoy of scooters, cars and banner-festooned trucks carrying musical performers on a procession through Phnom Penh's streets.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cambodian-pm-quits-facebook-threatens-to-block-access-in-country-610676#:~:text=Prime%20Minister%20Hun%20Sen%20of,be%20suspended%20for%20six%20months.">Cambodian PM quits Facebook, threatens to block access in country</a>

Party supporter Yin Linda said she hoped Hun Manet, who was educated in Britain and the United States, would "bring new ideas from overseas to develop our country's prosperity".

But a tuk-tuk driver who didn't want to be named characterised the election as "meaningless" and said that opposition supporters were deeply unhappy with the state of Cambodian politics.

"The international community will not accept the results," the 50-year-old said.

Hun Sen's party won every seat in the 2018 national election after a court dissolved the opposition&nbsp;Cambodia&nbsp;National Rescue Party.

Human Rights Watch's Asia Division deputy director Phil Robertson dismissed the election campaign as "Hun Sen going through the motions... claiming that this is democracy in action".

"When in reality he's done everything possible to make sure he faces no real opposition whatsoever," Robertson added.

"It's a stab in the back to the people of&nbsp;Cambodia. They don't have a choice. It's more of the same."

<h2>Opposition suppressed&nbsp;</h2>

Cambodia's parliament last week approved laws to ban anyone who fails to vote in this year's poll from running for office in future elections -- a move that will affect Hun Sen's exiled rivals.

On the eve of the election campaign, Hun Sen, a prolific Facebook user, quit the platform ahead of its parent company Meta announcing it would remove one of his videos and was considering a recommendation to suspend his account.

The video, filmed in January, showed Hun Sen threatening his opponents with legal action or a beating if they accused his party of vote theft in July's polls.

The ruling on the video by Meta's Oversight Board said his speech contained "unequivocal statements of intent to commit violence" against opposition politicians.

Analysts say that China's political and financial support has emboldened Hun Sen's unprecedented crackdown on &nbsp;political activists, the media and civil society -- an assault spurred by major opposition gains in previous elections.

Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition, and scores of political opponents have been convicted during his time in power.

Opposition leader Kem Sokha was sentenced in March to 27 years in prison and placed under house arrest for treason over an alleged plot with foreigners to topple Hun Sen's government.

Another opposition figure, Sam Rainsy, has been living in exile in France since 2015 to avoid prison for convictions he says are politically motivated.

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen kicked off a three-week election campaign on Saturday, with his party poised to sweep the one-sided contest after the top challenger was barred from taking part.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen kicked off a three-week election campaign on Saturday, with his party poised to sweep the one-sided contest after the top challenger was barred from taking part. Cambodians will vote on July 23 in an election widely seen as a sham after authorities denied registration to the Candlelight Party -- considered the only viable rival to Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party. Hun Sen -- who has ruled Cambodia for 38 years -- told a sea of tens of thousands of supporters dressed in party T-shirts and hats that his government would build more roads and schools while boosting wages and economic growth. He also vowed to eradicate "hostile circles seeking to incite national division, social chaos and political instability". "If the Cambodian People's Party wins, the Cambodian people are the winners," he told the crowd. Hun Sen -- one of the world's longest-serving leaders -- has hinted he will retire in the near future. He has backed his eldest son Hun Manet, a four-star general, to succeed him. At Saturday's rally, he handed the party's flag to Hun Manet, who led a convoy of scooters, cars and banner-festooned trucks carrying musical performers on a procession through Phnom Penh's streets. Also read | Cambodian PM quits Facebook, threatens to block access in country Party supporter Yin Linda said she hoped Hun Manet, who was educated in Britain and the United States, would "bring new ideas from overseas to develop our country's prosperity". But a tuk-tuk driver who didn't want to be named characterised the election as "meaningless" and said that opposition supporters were deeply unhappy with the state of Cambodian politics. "The international community will not accept the results," the 50-year-old said. Hun Sen's party won every seat in the 2018 national election after a court dissolved the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. Human Rights Watch's Asia Division deputy director Phil Robertson dismissed the election campaign as "Hun Sen going through the motions... claiming that this is democracy in action". "When in reality he's done everything possible to make sure he faces no real opposition whatsoever," Robertson added. "It's a stab in the back to the people of Cambodia. They don't have a choice. It's more of the same." Opposition suppressed Cambodia's parliament last week approved laws to ban anyone who fails to vote in this year's poll from running for office in future elections -- a move that will affect Hun Sen's exiled rivals. On the eve of the election campaign, Hun Sen, a prolific Facebook user, quit the platform ahead of its parent company Meta announcing it would remove one of his videos and was considering a recommendation to suspend his account. The video, filmed in January, showed Hun Sen threatening his opponents with legal action or a beating if they accused his party of vote theft in July's polls. The ruling on the video by Meta's Oversight Board said his speech contained "unequivocal statements of intent to commit violence" against opposition politicians. Analysts say that China's political and financial support has emboldened Hun Sen's unprecedented crackdown on political activists, the media and civil society -- an assault spurred by major opposition gains in previous elections. Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition, and scores of political opponents have been convicted during his time in power. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was sentenced in March to 27 years in prison and placed under house arrest for treason over an alleged plot with foreigners to topple Hun Sen's government. Another opposition figure, Sam Rainsy, has been living in exile in France since 2015 to avoid prison for convictions he says are politically motivated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cambodian PM launches election campaign amid one-sided contest, main rival barred

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Cambodian PM to visit China, meet Xi this week: Beijing

Explained | Who is Hun Manet, the new Cambodian PM appointed by the king

Cambodian PM launches election campaign amid one-sided contest, main rival barred