PHNOM PENH -- The bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and China rose by 31 percent in the first nine months of the year thanks to closer ties between the two governments, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo said Thursday.

From January to September this year, the two-way trade volume had amounted to $2.83 billion, a 31 percent rise compared with the same period last year, the Ambassador said.

"With this rapid increase, I believe that the two countries will be able to achieve the target of $5 billion trade volume by 2017," she said at a signing ceremony with the Cambodian Finance Ministry.

Main products China sold to Cambodia are garment and textile raw materials, machinery, motorcycles, cars, foodstuffs, electronics, furniture, light products, medicines and cosmetics, while Cambodia sells milled rice, dry rubber, cassava, fishery, and apparels to China.

Last year, the bilateral trade was valued at $2.9 billion, up 16 percent year-on-year.