PHNOM PENH, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodia's leading think tank on Monday hosted the fourth International Relations Forum with a focus on small state foreign policy.
Yang Peou, secretary general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said currently, the world order is changing dramatically. The world order that was established after World War II is being dismantled and damaged by the Cold War mentality, which seems to be relapsing.
Peou said in this context, small states with small areas, small populations, weak economies, and limited military strength should use diplomacy as the most important tool for maintaining sovereignty, peace, stability, national development, and sustainability.
He said small states should use soft power such as culture, diplomacy, knowledge, and science among others to promote partnership, peace, prosperity, and development.
"Peaceful diplomacy and preventive diplomacy are important strategies that can help small states prevent conflict before it becomes a risk," Peou said.
He added that peaceful diplomacy and preventive diplomacy are based on dialogue, consultation, mediation, confidence-building, and respect for international law.
The forum, organized by the International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC) of the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) in cooperation with Germany's Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Konrad Adenauer Foundation), brought together officials, diplomats, scholars, researchers, university professors and students.
IRIC's director general Kin Phea said the strength of small states lies not in material power, but in strategic foresight, diplomatic skill, moral credibility, and the intelligent use of networks and multilateral institutions.
"Preventive diplomacy is not a luxury but a necessity -- a proactive strategy aimed at averting conflicts, managing disputes through dialogue, and fostering trust through confidence-building measures and cooperation," he said.
Phea said small states acting collectively can amplify influence and protect shared interests, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) demonstrated through consensus-based diplomacy and ASEAN centrality.