14/08/2010
China's aid to Cambodia contributes to the country's social and economic development, and significant reduction in poverty, said Sok An, deputy prime minister, in a recent interview with Xinhua.
"The relations between Cambodia and China, I could say without hesitation is very good," Sok An said. "China is one of the main development partners of Cambodia and has provided significant assistance to Cambodia."
"Most of China's assistance is for infrastructure development, such as construction and repairs of roads and bridges and for other important development projects such as irrigation system, expansions of river port, electricity distributions, and many others," said Sok An.
Moreover, China has also assisted Cambodia's human resources development through providing scholarships to deserving Cambodian students and government officials to study in China.
Sok An, also the minister of Council of Ministers, said that " the roads and bridges have strategic role to play in facilitating local and regional transport and an access to remote areas, so goods and services can move faster from one place to another. This in turn leads to price reduction, benefiting consumers."
He pointed out that Chinese assistant projects helped to attract more investment from all sectors to different parts of Cambodia, which can create jobs for people there. So they can generate more income to support their families.
At the same time, these assistant projects (roads and bridges) have promoted tourism "which is important for employment creation and for enhancing national and sub-regional activities and thus economic growth as the transportation cost is reduced."
Besides, these roads and bridges have connected people from more developed areas to less developed ones; for example, providing faster access to education and health services, the deputy prime minister said.
China-funded construction of roads to Preah Vihear Temple unambiguously plays crucial role in opening up Preah Vihear area, he said. It both helps promote and preserve Cambodia's rich cultural heritage and attracts national and international tourists to the area.
The deputy prime minister said China's aid, with the participation of private sector, has resulted in "impressive economic growth, reaching double digits of 11 percent during 2004- 2007; and significant reduction in poverty from 49 percent in 1994 to 35 percent in 2004, to 30 percent in 2007 and to 27.4 percent in 2008 and it is even lower today."
Sok An during the interview cited some mega projects funded by China, including: Building of the Office of the Council of Ministers; Prek Kdam bridge; Prek Tamak bridge; Cambodia-China Friendship Se Kong bridge; National Road No. 57 (Pailin); National Road No. 62 from Kampong Thom to Tbeng Meanchey, Preah Vihear; National Road No.8, connecting Krek and Meun Chey; and National Road No. 76 from Senmonorom (Mondul Kiri) to Dakdam.
The China's assistance to Cambodia started on 1950s, including grants and loans. Since then 110 projects have been implemented, includes providing large quantities of commodities.
"In the meantime, China's assistance is effective and the implementation of the China-funded projects in Cambodia is made with minimal procedural requirements," he stressed.
Sok An said that Cambodia needs more financial and technical support for further development, so he hopes that the bilateral cooperation relations between Cambodia and China will be further strengthened.
Source: Xinhua
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