Cambodia breaks ground on China-funded road to connect Thailand

PURSAT, Cambodia -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo on Monday jointly broke ground for the construction of a 182-km national road No. 55, which stretches from Pursat province's central part to Thai border.

The road is expected to cost nearly $133 million, which is the concessional loan from the government of China, according to the master-plan. The China Road and Bridge Corporation will undertake the construction, which is expected to be completed in June 2018.

Hun Sen expressed profound gratitude to China for financial support to Cambodia for infrastructure development.

"The road No. 55 is a strategic road to serve economic development, stretching from the province's central part to Thmorda checkpoint on the Cambodia-Thailand border," he said at the event, which was attended by more than 10,000 people.

"Through Ambassador Bu Jianguo, I'd like to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government for providing grant aid, non-interest loan, and concessional loan to Cambodia for socio-economic development," he said.

The prime minister also highly appreciated Chinese investors in Cambodia, saying that they had greatly contributed to the development of Cambodian economy.

Ambassador Bu said the road No. 55 is a strategic road to facilitate travels and goods transportation in Pursat province and to connect the province with Thailand.

"When the construction is completed, residents living in mountainous areas in Pursat province will be easier to travel to both capital Phnom Penh and Thai border," she said.

According to the Ambassador, so far, China has provided financial aid to Cambodia to build roads in the length of 2,669 kilometers, representing about 35 percent of Cambodia's total roads.

"Some 1,437 km have already been constructed, as 821 km are under construction and 411 km are planned to start construction," she said.

Besides, China has built seven large-scale bridges in this Southeast Asian country, she added.

"China has confidence that these transportation infrastructures have laid a solid foundation for economic development and poverty reduction in Cambodia," she said.