PHNOM PENH, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodia-ASEAN Business Summit 2025 kicked off here on Thursday, with a strong emphasis on regional economic cooperation and integration.

The summit, themed "Accelerating ASEAN's Connectivity: People, Infrastructure, and Trade," gathered key government and business leaders to explore opportunities and strategies for strengthening economic ties within the ASEAN region.

In his keynote address at the opening ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted Cambodia's commitment to fostering a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and competitive ASEAN Economic Community.

"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has established itself as a beacon of stability and prosperity, with immense potential highlighted by its status as the world's fifth largest economy," he told some 600 participants.

Hun Manet underlined that infrastructure development, digital connectivity, and trade facilitation were key drivers of regional economic growth and integration.

The one-day summit facilitated high-level discussions on critical issues such as infrastructure development, trade and investment, human capital development, and the role of technology and innovation in driving economic growth.

Kith Meng, president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said infrastructure development was a key pillar of regional integration.

"We need to double down on our effort to prioritize investments in physical infrastructure -- roads, railways, ports -- as well as digital connectivity," he said.

Meng said the summit reflected ASEAN's cooperation and collaboration against the resurging pursuit of economic decoupling and isolation.

With a projected combined GDP of 10 trillion U.S. dollars by 2030, ASEAN would become the world's fourth-largest economy, he added.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Enditem

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