PHNOM PENH, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) have given a big boost to Cambodia's milled rice export to China, Lay Chhun Hour, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said on Monday.

Cambodia exported 231,125 tons of milled rice to China last year, a year-on-year rise of 96 percent. The Southeast Asian country made 138.36 million dollars from exporting the commodity to China last year, up 83 percent.

He told Xinhua in an interview that Cambodia has benefited a lot from the RCEP and the CCFTA, as well as the rice quota provided by China to Cambodia.

Chhun Hour said the Chinese market has been a crucial high-value destination for Cambodian rice, especially premium fragrant varieties, offering significant revenue and development for the rice sector.

"Among all the 75 destination countries and regions that we have exported our milled rice to, China ranks number one," he said.

Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said Cambodia has benefited from preferential access under the RCEP and CCFTA, rising Chinese demand for imported rice, and growing confidence in Cambodian rice quality.

"China's emphasis on food security and diversification of import sources works in Cambodia's favor, especially for fragrant and premium varieties," he told Xinhua.

"The outlook remains positive and expected more growth if Cambodia can maintain quality standards, ensure consistent supply, and manage logistics and pricing competitiveness," he said. ■