Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for China and Cambodia to “stand in closer solidarity, now more than ever” in the first-ever 2+2 strategic dialogue aimed at deepening mutual political and security ties.

Speaking during a meeting in Phnom Penh, Wang also urged the two sides to further strengthen political and security cooperation to “firmly hold the reins of development and security in their own hands”.

The meeting on Wednesday was the first under the 2+2 mechanism with Cambodia involving defence and foreign ministers, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit in April last year, as part of a broader and more comprehensive strategy of China’s diplomatic and strategic engagement with its neighbours.

According to the Cambodian foreign ministry, the two sides agreed to upgrade the diplomatic mechanism to involve the Chinese public security ministry and Cambodian interior ministry.

It said in a statement on Thursday that the 3+3 elevation aimed to “deepen bilateral cooperation and respond to evolving regional and global challenges”.

Bonds with neighbouring countries are a diplomatic priority as Beijing looks to enhance stability in supply chains and the external environment amid the increasingly fierce strategic competition with the US.

“The international community is currently undergoing the most profound upheaval and transformation since the end of the Cold War,” Wang said in the meeting where he was joined by Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun and their Cambodian hosts, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defence Minister Tea Seiha, on Wednesday.

“China … is willing to deepen cooperation with Cambodia … to build an Asian security model characterised by shared security and risks, seeking common ground whilst reserving differences, and dialogue and consultation, thereby promoting the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction.”