PHNOM PENH - Trade volume between Cambodia and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was valued at $1.2 billion in 2017, an average increase of 3.1 percent a year since 2013, a HKSAR's top economic official said Monday.

Edward Yau, HKSAR's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, disclosed the figures during a meeting with Cambodian Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak to discuss trade and economic cooperation between HKSAR and Cambodia.

"Mr. Yau said there is great potential for growth in trade between Hong Kong and Cambodia, noting that bilateral trade in goods amounted to $1.2 billion and increased by an average of 3.1 percent per year from 2013 to 2017," said a press release from his office.

The release added that Yau also promoted HKSAR's role as the key link in the Belt and Road Initiative, saying that HKSAR is capable of contributing to infrastructure investment as well as financing, and of providing the professional and legal services needed to connect countries along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yau led a 48-strong HKSAR delegation comprising businessmen and professionals to visit Cambodia on March 19-20, the first leg of their two-nation tour, which will also bring them to Vietnam.

On Monday afternoon, Yau and the delegates also met with Sok Chenda Sophea, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), to learn more about the private sector investment policy and the latest investment environment in Cambodia, the release said.

According to the CDC, Cambodia attracted 13 investment projects with the investment capital of $85 million from the HKSAR in 2017.