With a joint pursuit of high environmental standards and sustainable, transparent investment models, there is strong optimism that China's participation will drive meaningful progress, fostering localized capacity building and a shared, low-carbon future for the entire region.

by Kin Phea

PHNOM PENH, May 25 (Xinhua) -- As countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have suffered from the impact of climate change and extreme weather, cooperation with China should be prioritized to address these pressing challenges.

The State of Southeast Asia: 2026 Survey Report, recently released by the ISEAS -- Yusof Ishak Institute, formerly the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, showed that "climate change and extreme weather" were the region's most pressing challenges and, for the first time, they have become the number one concern in most countries.

Southeast Asian countries, particularly Cambodia, have experienced unusually severe floods, droughts, heatwaves and storms that have directly disrupted daily lives. Farmers lost crops and tourism slowed, and food prices rose sharply.

These are not distant risks, but the immediate impact on household budgets. At the same time, clearer scientific attribution and stronger media coverage, especially social media, have made it easier to connect these events to climate change. As a result, people increasingly see climate change not as a future threat, but as a present and personal crisis.

ASEAN countries most exposed to climate risks are already pushing for practical cooperation such as early warning systems, disaster response and resilience-building. China and Southeast Asia should prioritize mutually beneficial collaboration on green infrastructure, accelerating the region's energy transition through China's advanced renewable technologies.

Joint initiatives in disaster prevention, specifically sharing satellite data for early warning systems, will significantly bolster regional resilience.

Furthermore, promoting climate-smart agriculture ensures food security while deepening economic ties.

Southeast Asian nations view China as a vital, proactive partner capable of providing scalable, affordable solutions.

With a joint pursuit of high environmental standards and sustainable, transparent investment models, there is strong optimism that China's participation will drive meaningful progress, fostering localized capacity building and a shared, low-carbon future for the entire region.

In promoting cooperation with Southeast Asia, China channels climate initiatives through technical platforms, keeping these issues distinct from other complex bilateral ones.

Prioritizing shared benefits such as marine conservation, disaster preparedness, and pollution control helps build broad consensus and foster win-win cooperation.

For nations like Cambodia, emphasizing climate-resilient infrastructure development is key. Clear institutional separation is also vital: climate partnerships must remain focused, delivering results on their own merits.

By emphasizing transparency, inclusiveness, and ASEAN's central role, China can ensure climate cooperation remains a shared regional good. Chinese enterprises can be contributors to tackle climate change and extreme weather in Southeast Asian countries.

Effective localization is essential. Manufacturing and maintaining green technologies directly within Southeast Asia will create local jobs and foster deeper trust.

Furthermore, tangible, high-visibility contributions, like solar-powered microgrids or rapid-deployment clean-water systems, provide immediate, localized value.

Over time, these consistent, reliable actions will highlight China's role as a responsible major country and a collaborative, proactive leader in delivering sustainable climate solutions in the region.

Editor's note: Kin Phea is director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.