Kao stressed that the U.S. is just one of several important partners for the region, along with China, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
"Our role is to work with our dialogue partners in a transparent, open, inclusive manner, and that is, I think, a strategic trust that we have built," Kao said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, right and President Biden appear on a screen as they hold a meeting via video link in Beijing Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
"If U.S. companies are interested, they can talk to the government, and we will go from there," he added. "Not just in this sector, but also in energy … across the board. We are very, very open." "We have now a very good level of cooperation," Kao insisted. "We should expand that cooperation, and, of course, in a strengthened interest."Kao, therefore, underscored the value that U.S. investment could not only bring to the region, but could help limit China’s impact. He pointed to a strong relationship rooted in the value of education, with the United States taking Cambodian students who end up returning and working in the country’s civil services.