China Pledges to Speed Up Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway Project

The Chinese government has said it will form a working group to push the Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway project, along with other major infrastructure developments
The Chinese government has said it will form a working group to push the Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway project. Kiripost via MPWT
The Chinese government has said it will form a working group to push the Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway project. Kiripost via MPWT

The Chinese government is planning to form a technical working group to speed up the Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway project.

During a meeting on March 23 between the Minister of Public Works and Transport and the vice chairman of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, the Chinese side appointed a technical working group to collaborate with the Cambodian side to accelerate the Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway Project.

"The Chinese side offered a full explanation of the strategy and action plan for the Phnom Penh-Poipet Expressway, and confirmed that forming a technical working group is a priority,” according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Facebook post.

Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transport, agreed to apportion the leaders and professional officials from relevant institutions. In addition, he also proposed three significant projects to the Chinese side for consideration on financial assistance.

The projects include the reconstruction of National Road No. 3 Veal Renh - Trapeang Ropov, which China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has studied, the expansion of National Road No. 6 from New Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport to Siem Reap City, which Shanghai Construction Group Co., Ltd has studied, and the Tonle Bassac Navigation Road and Logistics System Project, which has been studied in detail by CCCC Water Transportation Consultants Co., Ltd.

Zhang Zhiqing, vice chairman of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, said that the reconstruction of the National Road and the expanded National Road No. 6 project are in the process of feasibility and evaluation.

Moreover, he asked for time to submit the results of the feasibility study to professional institutes for an in-depth discussion on the Bassac River Navigation and Logistics System project.

mao.sreypich@kiripost.com