Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday spoke highly of the rehabilitation project of Cambodia's National Road No.7, assisted by the Chinese government and constructed by Shanghai Construction (Group) General Co.

 

"The people in the region could benefit lots from the road and the bridge," Hun Sen said during his visit to the construction site of the 1,057-meter-long Sekong River Super-large Bridge, which will be the largest bridge in Cambodia's northeast region and one of 13 bridges of the National Road No.7 from Kratie Province to Cambodia-Laos border.

 

"It will not only promote the exchanges of personnel, goods and traffic but also the development of tourism as well as help to attract more domestic and international investment," the premier added.

 

Cambodia's National Road No.7 is also part of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) highway networks. "The construction of the bridge will be sure to promote social and economic development and mutual benefit of the triangle area of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos," Hun Sen said, adding "when we have road, we have hope."

 

He thanked the Chinese government and people for continuous assistance, and appreciated the friendly relationship between Cambodia and China. China's assistance is pure-hearted without any preconditions.

 

The total length of the National Road No.7 is about 187 km. The project commenced on November 18, 2004 and the total contract time is 44 months, which will be completed in May 2008. The total works of the road No.7 project includes the road rehabilitation as well as 13 bridges, drainage and protecting works.

 

The project is estimated to cost more than 500 million yuan (more than US$65 million). With the approximately 71 percent of the total works have been completed up to the end of July 2006, Shanghai Construction (Group) General Co makes every endeavor to try to complete the whole project before the end of 2007.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2006)