In brief
The conference opened in Phnom Penh with a keynote by Cambodian minister Sok Siphana, who urged ASEAN cohesion and resist global fragmentation. Panels examined ASEAN’s strategic role and multipolar dynamics, while participants highlighted China’s role in sustaining multilateralism.
The international forum titled “New World Order” opened in Phnom Penh on Friday, drawing scholars, policymakers and industry leaders to a one‑day debate on global geopolitics, digital technology, trade and the role of ASEAN. Co‑hosted by CamTech University, Sun Yat‑sen University and the China‑ASEAN Studies Center, the conference aimed to strengthen multilateral cooperation and highlight China’s leadership in global governance.
The event’s opening featured a keynote address by Sok Siphana, a Cambodian senior minister responsible for special missions in multilateral trade and economic affairs. In his speech, Siphana defined the forum as a strategic platform for exchanging insights amid emerging challenges. He stressed the importance of upholding the United Nations Charter as the foundation of international society and warned that indiscriminate decoupling could impoverish developing nations and entrench adversarial blocs.
"Nations must firmly uphold the United Nations Charter…while actively resisting the fragmentation of the global economy," Siphana told participants. He further emphasized that ASEAN should remain a neutral, inclusive platform allowing competing global powers to engage without compelling Southeast Asia to align with a single patron.
The conference unfolded in two panel discussions. The first examined the strategic dynamics for ASEAN and the broader international community, with scholars outlining the challenges of maintaining cohesion amid external pressures. The second panel addressed the dynamics of multipolarity, multilateralism and the agency of small states, underscoring the need for smaller nations to navigate between major powers.
Panels Highlight China’s Role in Multilateral Governance
Throughout the sessions, panelists highlighted China’s role in maintaining global security, stability and development. They described China’s active promotion of multilateralism and inclusive governance as essential to counteracting fragmentation. The discussion linked these themes to the practical realities of trade and technology policy across the region.
Participant Perspectives from Students and Industry Pioneers
First‑year student Him Gek Houn of CamTech University shared her experience attending the forum. "I joined the conference to experience a global forum firsthand and to understand how nations can collectively improve the global landscape," Houn said. She added that equal understanding of neighbors’ perspectives could foster cooperation. "While we have different backgrounds, we still share the same planet. Therefore, we should come together on the basis of equality," she noted, underscoring the value of shared human experience at the heart of the discussion.
Industry leaders from technology and trade sectors also contributed to the conversation, linking digital innovation to broader economic resilience. They illustrated how emerging technologies can support ASEAN’s integration and resilience amid global shifts.
By the day’s conclusion, participants reflected on the forum’s emphasis on ASEAN unity and multilateralism. The event not only highlighted the strategic role of the region but also illustrated how academic, policy and industry voices can converge to address increasingly complex global challenges.
