PM HE Expects New Infrastructure Projects from His Future Visit to China
02 January 2023
Kratie (FN), Jan. 2 – Cambodian prime minister HE expects additional agreements on new infrastructure projects from his future visit to China.

The premier spoke at the groundbreaking for construction of Kratie Bridge across Mekong River, held on Monday in Kratie province, jointly presided over by Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian.

The premier thanked the Chinese people and the government, especially Chinese president Xi Jinping and prime minister Li Keqiang, for their assistances to Cambodia.

"I hope to visit the People's Republic of China again, and there will be definitely new agreements made from for that visit, including the second expressway connecting Phnom Penh to the Vietnamese border,” said the premier.

The second Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway is scheduled to ground break in 2023 and be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027 with a construction budget of USD 1.6 million.

Samdech continued that Cambodia will also release its budget of approximately USD200 million to build a bridge across the Mekong River, and later on, there will be an expressway connecting Lvea Em district to the Vietnamese border.
=FRESH NEWS

China key contributor to Cambodia's development: Cambodian senior official
Xinhua
25th January 2023, 21:30 GMT+11

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China is a key contributor to Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Economy and Finance Ministry's Standing Secretary of State Vongsey Vissoth said here on Wednesday.

"China is the largest source of FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) to Cambodia, accounting for 42 percent of total FDIs to the country," he said at a forum on Cambodia's economic outlook for 2023.

"China has played a key role in the investments in Cambodia's industries, agriculture, tourism, construction and real estate, and transport infrastructure," he added.

China is also a major trading partner of Cambodia and one of the potential markets for Cambodian products, Vissoth said, adding that the world's second-largest economy is also the largest provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the official said China's optimization of its COVID-19 strategy early this month would give a boost to tourism and economic growth in Cambodia and in the world.

"China was the main source of foreign tourists to Cambodia in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, but during the pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists to Cambodia had sharply declined," he said. "So, China's reopening will be a good opportunity for us to attract Chinese tourists to Cambodia again."

Ky Sereyvath, director-general of the Institute of China Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Chinese ODA and investment have played a crucial role in supporting Cambodia's socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Cambodians.

China-funded mega-projects such as roads, bridges, airports, hydropower plants, economic zones, national stadium and expressway have provided and will continue to provide great benefits to Cambodia and its people, he told Xinhua.
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/273 ... r-official

China 15:23, 06-Feb-2023
Cambodian PM HE to visit China from February 9-11
CGTN
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo HE will pay an official visit to China from February 9 to 11, China's Foreign Ministry announced Monday.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-02-06/C ... index.html

Twelve Cooperation Documents to be Signed during Cambodian PM’s Visit to China
AKP Phnom Penh, February 09, 2023 --

Twelve (12) cooperation deals between the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China will be signed during the three-day official visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HE to Beijing, China.

A high-level Cambodian delegation led by Samdech Techo Prime Minister left here this morning for the visit in China. They were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence, and many other senior government officials.

According to H.E. Sry Thamrong, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister, the 12 documents cover the bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade, culture, and many other development projects.

The deals will be inked on Feb. 10 under the witness of the Cambodian Premier and his Chinese counterpart H.E. Li Keqiang following their bilateral talks, he pointed out.

Besides, Samdech Techo Prime Minister will pay separate courtesy calls on H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and H.E. Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the minister delegate added.

This afternoon, he continued, Samdech Techo HE will receive different delegations of major Chinese companies investing in Cambodia, particularly in physical infrastructure construction, wastewater treatment, and so on.

“This visit of Samdech Techo Prime Minister to China coincides with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Cambodia-China diplomatic ties, and marks the 3rd year of his visit to China (in 2020) when others turned away from the country due to COVID-19 fear,” he underlined.
The high-level Cambodian delegation is scheduled to return home on Feb. 11.

Some big infrastructure projects are being planned for Cambodia with the help of Chinese investment and know-how.

Three Large Chinese Companies to Continue Investment in Cambodia
AKP Phnom Penh, February 09, 2023 --

Three large Chinese companies have expressed their interest to continue their investment in infrastructure development in Cambodia, after investing in the construction of more than 2,000 kilometres long of road and bridge in the Kingdom.

The interest was unveiled while their senior representatives separately paid courtesy calls on Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HE, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, during the latter’s stay in Beijing, China this afternoon, according to TVK special correspondent.

The Chinese companies include China Communications Construction Company Ltd., China Road and Bridge Corporation, and China Metro Group Limited.

On the occasion, they informed Samdech Techo HE of their investment plans in infrastructure development in Cambodia including the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), freshwater transport project, wastewater treatment project in Preah Sihanouk province, Phnom Penh-Poipet high-speed railway project, and lightweight high-speed rail from Siem Reap provincial city to the new international airport in the province’s Chikreng district.

The feasibility study of underground metro project in Phnom Penh, waterway transport and port projects, and wastewater system development project in Koh Kong, Battambang and Kampong Cham provincial cities as well as the companies’ assistance to the construction of Techo Sen Institute of Public Works and Transport’s buildings and Techo Sen Koh Thom Hospital’s buildings were raised in the meetings.

The three companies thus sought support from Samdech Techo HE for the success of their investment plans.

Samdech Techo Prime Minister highly valued the three companies for their joint commitment to investing in infrastructure construction with quality in Cambodia.

Regarding lightweight high-speed rail, the Premier asked China Metro Group Limited to conduct a study on lightweight high-speed rail line from Phnom Penh to the new international airport in Kandal province and another line in the capital which is facing heavy traffic congestion.

Samdech Techo HE arrived in Beijing on Feb. 9 for a three-day official visit, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
By C. Nika
AKP