In recent years, China-Cambodia economic and trade cooperation has achieved fruitful results. Chinese enterprises in Cambodia have overcome the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, continuously improved local people's livelihood, and contributed to Cambodia's economic and social development. "Where there is a road, there is hope" is a well-known proverb in Cambodia. It is reported that Cambodia currently has more than 10,000 kilometers of main roads and 20 large-scale river-crossing bridges, of which more than 3,000 kilometers of main roads and 8 river-crossing bridges are built by Chinese companies.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said recently that with the help of Chinese companies, Cambodia's radial highway network has been gradually improved, traffic efficiency has been continuously improved, and connectivity has been enhanced. .

Building an onshore lifeline

As night falls, from Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, to the south along National Highway No. 3, there are various shops on both sides of the road, and the music is endless. In July 2021, the No. 3 National Highway Reconstruction and Expansion Project undertaken by China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as China Road and Bridge) completed the preliminary inspection and was actually opened to traffic, shortening the drive from Phnom Penh to Kampot and Baima from the original nearly 5 hours. to 2.5 hours.

In Ankesa County, Takéo Province, National Highway No. 3 passes through the city. Presmei, a local girl, likes to stand on the pedestrian bridge with her friends and watch the cars come and go. She told reporters: "Cambodians like to live on the side of the road, because where there is a road, there is hope. After the opening of the National Highway No. 3, many enterprises and factories moved to Anksa County. With more job opportunities, our future life will definitely be better. good!"

Sun Zhanto, Minister of State and Minister of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia, said that National Highway No. 3 is an important part of Cambodia's trunk highway network. The reconstructed and expanded highway not only drives tourism from Phnom Penh to Kampot Province, but also makes a large number of tourists in Kampot Port. Commodities and supplies can be transported to all parts of the country faster, which can be called "land lifeline".

Also ushering in a new look is Cambodia's National Highway 11.

At the end of 2021, the opening ceremony of the reconstruction and expansion project of Cambodia National Highway No. 11, undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation, will be held. The reconstructed and expanded National Highway No. 11 is one of the few asphalt concrete roads in Cambodia. The trunk line is 96.48 kilometers long, connecting the trunk line of the Cambodian National Highway and running through the provinces of Provence and Tebenkhamun. "In the past, this road was dusty, and it was often flooded in the rainy season, so the car could not run at all. After upgrading, the road has become spacious and clean, and there is an endless stream of vehicles passing by." Looking at the modern highway passing through the village "Many villagers living by the roadside are planning to start a small business and seize the opportunity to get rich brought by the road."

Build a bridge of friendship between the two peoples

In central Cambodia, Grokma district in Tebenkham province and Stentram district in Kampong Cham province separate the banks of the Mekong River. For decades, the people of the two places across the river had to rely on the old, slow ferry to travel. In November 2021, the Stentron-Grochma Mekong River Bridge project, undertaken by Shanghai Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Shanghai Construction Engineering), was officially opened to traffic.

"The bridge is not only a bridge connecting the two provinces, but also a bridge of friendship between the people of Cambodia and China." Hun Sen said that the bridge built by Chinese companies has brought great convenience to the people of the two places and effectively promoted the economic development of both sides.

The Stentrang-Grochma Mekong River Bridge is also the first phase of Cambodia's National Highway 71C project. The second phase of the project is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2024. The project was undertaken by Shanghai Construction Engineering, with a total length of more than 114 kilometers. After completion, it will successfully connect the existing highway network on both sides of the Mekong River. Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, said that the project will greatly enhance the horizontal transportation capacity in the central and eastern regions of Cambodia, effectively promote the economic development of the regions along the route, and play a significant role in improving tourism conditions and driving the rapid development of tourism.

Cambodia's waters are widely distributed and there are many rivers. In the southeast of Phnom Penh, there is a 228-hectare Long Island in the middle of the Basa River. 90% of the land on the island is planted with longan, and the locals make a living on it. But how to transport longan more conveniently from Dragon Island, which is surrounded by water, has always been a problem. The Bassa River Bridge constructed by Shanghai Construction Engineering is divided into east and west forks, connecting Long Island and its east and west banks in an M shape. At present, the Bassa River Bridge is close to the actual opening to traffic. Bochang, deputy head of Gelongzeng Township of Long Island, told reporters that the residents of the whole island are looking forward to the opening of the bridge to traffic. "Our longan can finally be quickly shipped to the city!"

Entering the era of highways

From Phnom Penh to Cambodia's largest port city Sihanoukville (referred to as Sihanoukville), Cambodia's first expressway, the Golden Port Expressway, is in full swing. The highway is about 190 kilometers long and will become the most important traffic artery in Cambodia's national highway network after it is opened to traffic.

At the construction site of the first tender section of the Golden Port Expressway in Kampong Speu Province, the reporter experienced the nearly completed section by car. Speeding on the wide road with two-way four-lane at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, the riding experience is comfortable and stable. It is understood that the pavement layer thickness of the Jingang Expressway is 70 cm, and the pavement uses modified asphalt specially designed for Cambodia's high temperature and high humidity climate. In order to ensure the high standards of construction materials such as sand, gravel and asphalt, China Road and Bridge, the project investor, has specially set up relevant laboratories. "The pavement is meticulously crafted to ensure the smoothness and stability of the Jingang Expressway," said Zhou Yong, general manager of China Road and Bridge Cambodia Office.

It is understood that after the opening of the Golden Port Expressway, the drive from Phnom Penh to Westport will be reduced from 5 hours to less than 2 hours, effectively reducing logistics costs and promoting economic development along the route. Ning Sapon, Chairman of the Ninth Committee of the Cambodian National Assembly, said that the Golden Port Expressway is the first expressway in Cambodia, and it will also lead to the formation of an important "economic corridor", promote the development of the transportation industry, form a larger urban cluster, and at the same time accumulate expressways for Cambodia. The experience in highway construction has propelled the country into the "Expressway Era".

In addition to the above-mentioned and other completed projects, there are still many important projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises, such as Road No. 1551, No. 146B and No. 148, and the second phase of the Cambodia-aided rural road project, which are progressing steadily.

The deepening cooperation between China and Cambodia in the fields of infrastructure and private economy has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. Chandali Nick, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, said that the Belt and Road cooperation project between the Cambodian Communist Party has strongly promoted Cambodia's economic development and improved people's livelihood, and enhanced the happiness of the local people. "The high-quality development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road will promote the practical cooperation between Cambodia and China to achieve greater mutual benefit and win-win results, and achieve more fruitful results." Editor / Sang Xiaomei