China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has contributed greatly and in a timely manner to Cambodia’s economic and social development, with achievements drawn upon by the country’s government and people, said the deputy prime minister. Cambodian Aun Pornmoniroth.
Pornmoniroth, who is also Minister of Economy and Finance, said the BRI has played an essential role in promoting development in Cambodia by driving sustainable economic and social progress through cooperation in various sectors such as infrastructure, economy, investment, financial sector and connectivity between people.
Despite the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were also significant progress and results in the cooperation between Cambodia and China within the framework of the BRI, the senior Cambodian official said in an interview with Xinhua.
Specifically, several vital infrastructures have been developed, such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ), a new container terminal in the autonomous port of Phnom Penh, roads, bridges and hydroelectric plants, he said.
Another significant recent result of cooperation under the BRI is the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, the kingdom’s second with Chinese investment, whose opening ceremony was held in June 2023, he added.
“These projects effectively improve the connectivity of transportation and energy infrastructure, deepen trade and investment cooperation, and expand the space for industrial cooperation and industrial parks since the bilateral cooperation plan was launched,” said Pornmoniroth. .
“The Sihanoukville-Phnom Penh Expressway has enormous potential to improve connectivity, improve logistics efficiency and reduce business costs,†he noted.
The deputy prime minister said that more than one million Cambodians now have access to jobs thanks to the SSEZ and Chinese investment in the garment sector.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the construction of the Morodok Techo National Stadium, the Tboung Khmum Hospital of Cambodia-China Friendship and the medical building of the Preah Kossamak Hospital of Cambodia-China Friendship are crucial results of Cambodia-China cooperation in the BRI framework to promote the health and sports sectors.
He recalled that the Morodok Techo National Stadium, with the assistance of China, allowed Cambodia to successfully host the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games in May.
The BRI, composed of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was launched by China in 2013 to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on the ancient routes. trade routes of the Silk Road and beyond.
According to Pornmoniroth, cooperation between Cambodia and China under the BRI focuses on six critical areas, namely: Infrastructure, agriculture, capacity development, industrial clustering, culture and tourism and finance.
“This cooperation framework has helped Cambodia diversify its sources of growth and improve economic competitiveness to converge with other countries in the region through development in infrastructure, production capacity, economic links and social development,” he concluded.
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