Cambodia inaugurates China-funded Mekong bridge, road

Cambodia inaugurated a 1.73-km Mekong River bridge, along with a 143-km road, here on Wednesday in a bid to boost economic development and reduce poverty in this far northeastern region.

The bridge and road, linked Stung Treng province's rural parts and its provincial town, are crucial to serve travel and exchange goods, and this infrastructure also links the province to Vietnam and Laos borders, as well as its neighboring Preah Vihear province.

The project was built by the Shanghai Construction (Group) Company in the period of three years under a concessional loan of 116 million U.S. dollars, which was financed by the Chinese government, according to the master-plan.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo presided over the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by senior government officials, local authorities and residents, totaling about 10,000.

"Transport infrastructure is very important for Cambodia and our Chinese friend has provided us a lot of bridges and roads," Hun Sen said. "The bridge and road we inaugurate today give enormous benefits to Cambodian people, especially for residents living on both sides of the Mekong River."

"Through Ambassador Bu Jianguo, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the government of China and its people for providing both grants and loans to Cambodia for economic development and poverty reduction," he said.

Bu is confident that the bridge and road will definitely contribute to enhancing living conditions of the people in the far northeast area.

Bu said the government of China always sticks to its foreign policy in strengthening and expanding good cooperation with its neighbors and emerging economic countries. Endi