2nd BRF will provide shared benefits, equal opportunities for all: Cambodian MP

The second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will further promote international collaborations and partnerships, said a Cambodian ruling party member of parliament.

Suos Yara, a member of parliament (MP) from the ruling Cambodian People's Party, made the remarks in an opinion published on the Khmer Times newspaper on Wednesday. The second BRF is scheduled for late April in Beijing, China.

BRF will provide shared benefits and equal opportunities for all, he said, adding that Cambodia is one of the staunchest supporters of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with expectations that it will contribute to peace and shared prosperity.

"From the Cambodian perspective, building synergy between BRI with the five-year development plan, called Rectangular Development Strategy, is the priority of bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and China," Yara wrote.

Cambodia's Rectangular Development Strategy Phase IV prioritizes four pillars - human resource development, economic diversification, private sector and job development, and inclusive and sustainable development, according to Yara.

Digital economy is the future economic sector of Cambodia, he said, adding that the key challenges facing Cambodia to realize a full-fledged digital economy are the lack of human resources and digital infrastructure, and the lack of public and private investment in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Proposed by China in 2013, the BRI refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.