PHNOM PENH, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects have played an important role in deepening pragmatic cooperation between Cambodia and China, Cambodian officials and exerts have said.

Kao Kim Hourn, a minister attached to the prime minister of Cambodia, said BRI is one of the important frameworks helping Cambodia attract investment for infrastructure development.

"As a country that had suffered heavily from war and conflict, our infrastructure was not there, so we need investment to develop roads, bridges, and ports among others," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. "BRI has been one of the key priorities for Cambodia to develop our infrastructure."

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said the BRI has played a very important role in helping countries cushion the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The BRI remains as a driving force to continue expanding cooperation among countries in the region and the world at large for the cause of peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development," he told Xinhua. "It is becoming the new engine of global economic growth."

The BRI, which consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was proposed by China in 2013 to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

GLOBALink | BRI projects help deepen Cambodia-China cooperation, benefit world: Cambodian official, expert