Kampong Speu (FN), March 22 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen stated Friday that the construction of Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway is a new milestone of the kingdom and her people, addressing at the groundbreaking ceremony in Kompong Speu province.

He said the expressway can be made possible thanks to peace, stability, and good relations with China.

“Without the support of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang, we could not achieve this expressway which requires the capital of USD 2 billion,” Prime Minister spoke before Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kong Xuanyou.

He said this first gigantic project of road construction under the framework of "public private partnership" is the “history and pride” of Cambodia

Prime Minister said the expressway links thousands of kilometers with South Economic Corridor, Greater Mekong Sub-region, as well as the ASEAN Highway, which are the hubs that people and goods pass.

Minister of Public Works and Transportation Sun Chanthol said that the construction is built under “build-operate-and-transfer” scheme. After the 50-year contract, China will hand over the expressway to Cambodia.

The USD 2 billion expressway, built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, expects to complete in March 2023, and is partly under President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The project is a vital initiative of the Royal Government to improve local infrastructure and connectivity with neighboring countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos, said minister Sun Chanthol.

The minister said the building of the 190-kilometer expressway with the width of 24.5 meters and four lanes—will take 4 years to complete.

In response to the government's request, the toll fee will be free of charge for one year following a 20 per cent off the following year.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also expressed commitment on building more expressways to Thailand and Viet Nam.