PHNOM PENH－China has been playing a major role in promoting global peace, public health and common development, Cambodian figures say.

China has unwaveringly upheld multilateralism and free trade and opposed unilateralism and protectionism, Phay Siphan, a Cambodian government spokesman said.

"China has always promoted rules-based global economic governance in order to build an open world economy."

As a major engine of global economic growth and recovery, China's peaceful development is a boon for the world, Siphan said, adding that: "China always adheres to the principle of noninterference in other countries' internal affairs, opposes hegemony and treats all countries equally regardless of how big or small they are."

China has provided 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations.

"Chinese vaccines have saved millions of people's lives across the world," Siphan said.

In terms of poverty alleviation, China's expertise in eradicating poverty was helpful to other countries, especially developing ones like Cambodia, he said.

Joseph Matthews, senior professor at BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said China has always passed on its know-how, technology and wealth to poor and developing countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative, backed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, has been connecting the world, and the fruits of China's development fruits have been passed on to all countries, he said.

China is a strong advocate of multilateralism, which is the key to tackling global challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change, Matthews said.

"Collaboration and a multinational approach are the keys to tackling these issues."

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Asian Vision Institute in Phnom Penh, said China is a global development partner that has provided tremendous support and assistance to the world through both bilateral and multilateral development frameworks.

"China's domestic development model can serve as the model for developing countries with a people-centric philosophy," he said, noting that the BRI enhances socioeconomic development across the region and stimulates collaboration.

Xinhua