He said Cambodia needs more investment in deep water ports and infrastructures to accommodate large cargo ships.

Sok Touch, deputy director general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia's International Relations Institute, said the concept would help to further integration between China and ASEAN.

"It will further promote economics, trade, security and political cooperation between China and ASEAN; however, the approach for the 'maritime silk road' seems difficult to get supports from all ASEAN countries--particularly from Vietnam and the Philippines--due to territorial disputes on the South China Sea," he said.

Both ASEAN and China need to further build mutual trust and confidence, show mutual respect and frankly talk over sea territorial disputes, he said.

Chheang Vannarith, a lecturer of Asia Pacific Study at the University of Leeds in Britain, said China's proposed 'maritime silk road' with Southeast Asia is an ambitious development plan.

"It reflects China's commitment and efforts to develop and share prosperity in the region," he said.

He said that maritime connectivity between China and Cambodia is being developed although at a slow pace.

He recalled that in December 2012, the Cambodia Iron and Steel Mining Industry Group and the China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group inked a Memorandum of Understanding to build port infrastructure in Koh Kong province and a railroad through five provinces.

The two firms unveiled the investment of around 10 billion U.S. dollars in building the largest port and rail connectivity.

"This private investment project is very important to develop port infrastructure in Cambodia," he said.

He said in Cambodia the ports' low capacity and efficiency, poor infrastructure connecting ports, rails and roads, high cost of transport, thin production chains, and weak institutions had become bottlenecks in enhancing maritime connections. .

"China should provide more technical support and technology transfer to Cambodia in port construction and management, infrastructure development and governance," he said.

In addition, China should support Cambodia in research and development in maritime economy development and marine environmental protection.

"Also, there is a great potential in developing ecotourism along the coastline and on the islands, fishery industry, and other marine resources. Chinese investors may need to look into these sectors," he said.