The Cambodian government has announced that Prime Minister Hun Sen will visit China next month. It will be the first such visit since Chinese President Xi Jinping secured a rare third term as the leader of the ruling Communist Party.

The two countries are expected to discuss infrastructure support for Cambodia, including the construction of a high-speed railway line.

The visit will take place from February 9 to 11.

China has been stepping up its involvement in the Southeast Asian nation. In November, a 190-kilometer expressway connecting the capital Phnom Penh with the southern port city of Sihanoukville opened.

A Chinese company funded about 2 billion dollars of its construction.

A number of other China-led projects are underway in the country, which has been experiencing rapid economic growth.

Observers say Cambodia is aiming to strengthen ties with China, its largest investor, in the hopes of receiving further infrastructure support.