Cambodian PM heads to Beijing for Belt and Road forum

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Saturday left here for Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held on Sunday and Monday, a senior official said.

"The forum aims to discuss and define goals for deeper and more efficient international cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative," Sry Thamarong, a minister attached to the prime minister, told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport before the departure.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, known as the "Belt and Road" initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

To support the initiative, China has established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund.

After the conclusion of the forum, Hun Sen will pay an official visit to China from May 16 to 17, the minister said.