NVDB005_-_CH_3.003._Cambodia’s_Embrace_on_BRI_and_Its_Geopolitical_Implications_-_Dr._Neak-5

Diplomatic Briefing — KAS Cambodia and CICP

24 — DP Vol. 05

Cambodia’s Embrace on the Belt and Road Inititive (BRI) and Its Geopolitical Implications

coordinated through Chinese big tech giants, including Alibaba, Huawei Technology, ZTE , and Tencent. 3

In recent years, Cambodia has embraced the BRI’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) project, as there seems to be no better alternative that fits the nation’s vision of a “Digital Cambodia”. It was also argued that China’s Huawei should become a predominant tech giant in ASEAN’s digital infrastructure as the forerunner of 5G technology following the significant decrease in

3 Kimlong, Chheng (2019). Linking Digital Silk Road to Cambodian Digital Economy. Khmer Times. https://www.khmertimeskh. com/595096/linking-digital-silk-road-to-cambodian-digital- economy/

the West’s role. 4 In 2022, the first Chinese association of internet start-ups, called the Cambodian Internet Startup Association (CISA), built a partnership with the local Cambodian Association of Finance Technology (CAFT) to create the diverse parts of the internet industry and fintech community in the Kingdom. 5 Under the theme of “post-covid digital economy devel- opment in Cambodia”, Cambodia even hailed this initiative as a “brilliant milestone” in the BRI. In 2019,

4 Wang, Zheng (26 May, 2022). Assessing the Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia amid the Covid-19 Pandemic (2022- 2022). ISEAS-Ishak Yusof Institute. https://www.iseas.edu.sg/ articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2022-57-assessing-the- belt-and-road-initiative-in-southeast-asia-amid-the-covid-19- pandemic-2021-2022-by-wang-zheng/

5 Molly, Bodurtha (2021). The Digital Silk Road: Perspectives from Affected Countries. Leiden Asia Centre. https://leidenasiacentre. nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Digital-Silk-Road-Perspectives- From-Affected-Countries.pdf

Building China-Cambodia Community of Shared Future is a common effort the two countries are committed to. Picture of China’s FM Wang Yi and Cambodia’s FM Prak Sokhonn at the bilateral meeting in Phnom Penh. Photo: Reuters