ASEAN HEADLINE | Phnom Penh’s Third Ring Road renamed as Xi Jinping Boulevard
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingAn official ceremony for renaming the road was held yesterday at the Peace Palace, presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet and Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia.
The newly renamed boulevard, constructed at a cost of $273 million with concessional financing from the Chinese government and contributions from the Cambodian government, connects National Road 4 in Chaom Chau III commune in Phnom Penh’s Por Senchey district, with National Road 1 in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district.
The construction work, undertaken by Chinese company Shanghai Construction Group Co Ltd, began on January 14, 2019, and included four flyovers and eight bridges. It traverses 15km in Phnom Penh and 38km in Kandal province.
Since its inauguration in July last year, the 53-kilometre long and 22-metre wide road has contributed to further easing cross-boundary transport, promoting trade, and creating development zones in surrounding areas.
Mr Hun Manet wrote on his Facebook page yesterday that the People’s Republic of China has strongly approved the renaming, which “has a huge meaning to the Cambodia-China ironclad friendship”.
“Cambodia-China relations are long-standing and have grown to an inseparable level,” the Premier added. “This relationship embodies the values of mutual trust, especially political trust. China’s assistance has not only helped socio-economic development in Cambodia but also strengthens its political independence.”
Mr Hun Manet noted that the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by China under President Xi’s leadership, has greatly contributed Cambodia’s socio-economic development. To date, major projects such as the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, and the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport have been implemented, he said.
“The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will also be completed in the future,’ he added. ‘So far, our Chinese friends have helped construct nearly 4,000 kilometres of roads in Cambodia,” he added.
Kin Phea, Director-General of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said yesterday that Cambodia naming a structure after a person or a country signifies that the Kingdom has placed great respect and honour on the individual or country who bears the name.
“This will contribute further to the already strong diplomatic ties between Cambodia and China, and President Xi Jingping really deserves the honour,” he said. “At the same time, I hope that more Chinese people will visit Cambodia and explore the wonders of the Kingdom, as this is the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year.”
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