On September 1, 2026, Mr. Wang Boyong, Vice Chairman and Secretary‑General of CIIDS, attended and addressed the 2026 China‑ASEAN Entrepreneurs Summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In his speech, Wang Boyong noted that Cambodia registers one of the most robust growth rates in China’s trade and economic ties across Southeast Asia. Bilateral trade between China and Cambodia rose by 29.9% year-on-year in 2025, outpacing China’s overall trade growth with ASEAN. Guided by the strategic leadership of the two countries’ leaders, the two sides have committed themselves to building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) resonates highly with Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy. He observed that Chinese enterprises are entering a critical phase of high‑quality overseas engagement with improved efficiency. Against the headwinds of deglobalization, Chinese companies should deepen engagement with local markets and pursue full‑chain localization covering R&D, production and sales. This will help Cambodia upgrade its industries while jointly mitigating external market risks. As a new‑type think tank with Chinese characteristics, CIIDS will continue to uphold the vision of China’s peaceful rise and contribute intellectual support to China-Cambodia cooperation.

At the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Chea Vuthy, Secretary-General of the Investment Board under the Council for the Development of Cambodia, delivered an opening address on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia. He extended a warm welcome to entrepreneurs from all countries in Phnom Penh and spoke highly of the iron-clad friendship between China and Cambodia. Cambodia is fully implementing Phase I of its Pentagonal Strategy and continuously improving its business environment. He invited Chinese enterprises to leverage dividends brought by RCEP and the China‑Cambodia Free Trade Agreement, and take deep-rooted part in Cambodia’s industrial upgrading, infrastructure development and capital-market growth. Government departments of Cambodia will offer full-fledged policy support and administrative services for foreign investors.

H.E. Mr. Lim Lork Piseth, Secretary of State at Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce, delivered a keynote speech themed New Blue Oceans for China‑Cambodia Cross‑border Trade. He released encouraging bilateral trade figures: China‑Cambodia bilateral trade hit USD 19.73 billion in 2025, and reached USD 13.62 billion in the first seven months of 2026. China ranks as Cambodia’s largest source of foreign investment. The Cambodian side highlighted three priority cooperation tracks: advanced manufacturing, agro‑industrialization and cross‑border digital economy. Bolstered by benefits under the China‑Cambodia FTA and RCEP, together with improving infrastructure and legal‑business frameworks, Cambodia warmly welcomes Chinese enterprises to build complete industrial ecosystems locally, rather than engaging merely in simple trading activities.

Also at the opening ceremony, Mr. Tony Dong, Chief Representative of the Sino‑International Entrepreneurs Federation, and Dr. Heng Vuthy, Chairman of the Cambodia National Federation of Trade and Investment Promotion Associations, gave opening remarks. Ms. Ma Bin, Executive Vice‑President of China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, delivered a keynote speech.

Co‑hosted by the Sino‑International Entrepreneurs Federation and the Cambodia National Federation of Trade and Investment Promotion Associations, the summit brought together nearly 300 delegates including senior government officials, think‑tank experts and entrepreneurs from China and Cambodia. Covering sectors such as new energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and digital economy, participants discussed industrial‑chain synergy and practical economic‑trade and investment cooperation. The event sent a strong signal for deeper two‑way cooperation between China‑Cambodia and China‑ASEAN.