Phnom Penh, 2 January 2023 (TDI): Cambodia on Monday broke ground for the construction of a bridge across the Mekong River in the country’s northeastern part. The funds for the bridge will be provided by China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The ceremony was presided over by the Cambodian Prime Minister. Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wentian.
The bridge will be constructed by the Shanghai Construction Group under China’s preferential loan. The construction is expected to be completed in 42 months.
Cambodia-China Cooperation
Hun Sen said the bridge is another fruitful result of close cooperation and solidarity between Cambodia and China. This will be done under the framework of the BRI.
“The bridge, along with its connecting road, will give a boost to goods transport, trade, and investment activities. Also, the development of agriculture, agro-industry, and tourism in northeastern provinces will also be seen” he said.
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In addition, Wang said 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI. He also stated that under this initiative, the bilateral cooperation between the two has achieved remarkable results in the infrastructure development sector.
Moreover, “The Kratie bridge across the Mekong River is the latest achievement of cooperation between China and Cambodia under the BRI,” he said.
The bridge will allow people to travel across the Mekong River smoothly. This will undoubtedly contribute to socioeconomic development and livelihood improvement for residents on both sides of the river.
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Furthermore, Wang underlined that the project does not only acts like a bridge linking facilities. He said that this is also a bridge connecting the hearts of the people between the two countries.
2023 also marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the “China-Cambodia Friendship Year”.
The Chinese Ambassador said China is willing to work closely with Cambodia. They are looking forward to building a community with a shared future between the two countries.
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