In brief
The one‑day conference, co‑hosted by CamTech University, Sun Yat‑sen University and the China‑ASEAN Studies Center, focused on global multilateralism and the role of China, urging ASEAN unity. Cambodian minister Sok Siphana emphasized maintaining the United Nations Charter while warning against economic decoupling. Students and scholars highlighted the need for cooperation and understanding across cultures.
An international conference on the "New World Order" opened Friday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where scholars, policymakers and industry leaders gathered to discuss global geopolitics, technology, trade and ASEAN’s role.
The forum was co‑organized by CamTech University, Sun Yat‑sen University and the China‑ASEAN Studies Center. It ran for a day, featuring two panel discussions: one on strategic dynamics for ASEAN and the global community, the other on multipolarity, multilateralism and the agency of small states.
Cambodian senior minister for multilateral trade and economic affairs Sok Siphana delivered the keynote. He said the event provides a platform to share insights and navigate emerging challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.
Siphana stressed that nations must uphold the United Nations Charter as the foundation of international society while resisting the fragmentation of the global economy. He warned that indiscriminate decoupling would impoverish developing countries and solidify adversarial political blocs.
"We must keep ASEAN united to remain a neutral, inclusive platform where competing global powers can engage without forcing Southeast Asia to align with a single patron," said Siphana.
Siphana highlighted China’s role in maintaining global security, stability, and development, and its advocacy for multilateralism and inclusive governance.
A first‑year student at CamTech University, Him Gek Houn, shared that she attended the conference to experience a global forum firsthand and to understand how nations can collectively improve the global landscape.
"I learned that to truly come together and improve our world, we need to understand our neighbors’ perspectives and cultures," Houn told Xinhua. "While we have different backgrounds, we still share the same planet. Therefore, we should come together on the basis of equality."
The conference offered scholars and industry pioneers valuable academic and personal insights, underscoring the importance of cooperation, resilience, and understanding in shaping the New World Order.
