A report on the 2025 Cambodia Youth Perception Survey on China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchanges was released in Phnom Penh on Aug 14.

Held at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), the event was co-hosted by the Cambodia Studies Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center of RUPP, and the China-Cambodia Cultural Exchange Alliance.

Experts, scholars, and youth representatives from government authorities, universities, and research institutions of both countries attended the launch.

Participants of the event pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Speaking at the ceremony, Oum Ravy, vice-rector of RUPP, said RUPP serves not only as a key platform for knowledge dissemination and talent cultivation, but also as an important bridge promoting exchange and mutual understanding between the young people of the two countries. Ravy expressed hope that the event would serve as an opportunity to further listen to young voices, respond to their needs, and encourage more Cambodian youth to take part in Cambodia-China exchange and cooperation programs.

Chen Cong, minister-counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, noted that the report showcases the achievements of China-Cambodia people-to-people exchanges while reflecting Cambodian youth's expectations for studying, traveling, and connecting with China. Chen said the embassy will continue to support the building of youth exchange mechanisms and serve as a bridge for the young people of the two countries to visit each other regularly and learn from one another.

Gu Jiayun, director of the Cambodia Studies Center at BFSU, said China-Cambodia youth exchanges have deepened in recent years, laying an increasingly solid foundation for mutual understanding. Noting that RUPP is a long-term partner of BFSU, Gu said hundreds of BFSU graduates majoring in the Khmer language have gone on to further their studies at RUPP. The release of the survey report, Gu added, is an important outcome of the two universities' deepening cooperation.

Covering more than 40 universities across Cambodia, the survey collected 2,380 valid responses from Gen Z respondents and examined five dimensions — education, tourism, culture, film and television, and Cambodia-China youth exchanges — making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of Cambodian youth perceptions to date.