Phnom penh: A leading Cambodian think tank on Wednesday hosted the fourth Phnom Penh Forum with a focus on ASEAN's strategic autonomy and policy choices in response to regional and global initiatives. Under the theme of "Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism," the one-day forum brought together leading national and international experts, policymakers, and academics from Cambodia, Germany, India, the Philippines, and South Korea, among others.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Suos Yara, chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Information, said the forum was held at a time when regional and global geopolitical tensions are high, world peace is in severe deficit, and economic insecurity is impacting socio-economic livelihoods globally. Yara emphasized that ASEAN represents hope, yet its unity and centrality are being challenged. He highlighted that regional strengths are rooted in "unity in diversity, political stability, sovereignty and integrity of political system, shared regional interests and how best the region optimizes its responses to new forms of external influence."

Yara pointed out that optimizing responses can be achieved collectively through platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Governance Initiative, the UN SDGs, and the vision of the UN Summit of the Future. However, he stressed that the essence of this challenge lies in adhering to principles of trust, respect, sincerity, integrity, and ethical standards, alongside international law and justice systems.

Discussing the forum's theme, Yara, also the chairman of the Asian Cultural Council, asserted that multilateralism is preferable to unilateralism. He stated that ASEAN must lead in fostering an effective, resilient, and inclusive form of multilateralism, advocating for multilateralism over unilateral dominance or sanctions.

Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, noted a shift towards unilateral actions in recent years, marked by withdrawals from critical international agreements and punitive trade measures. These actions have strained relations across the Asia-Pacific and created uncertainties for regional economic integration and multilateral cooperation frameworks. Phea also highlighted the benefits of consistent multilateral engagement, citing the deepening partnership between ASEAN and China as a compelling example that yields mutual gains in trade, infrastructure, and sustainable development.