Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 27 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said that the Cambodia Daily's publication quoting a source from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, stating "The Royal Government of Cambodia Borrows USD 5 billion from China to Build the Funan Techo Canal Project," as false information.

The premier spoke on Wednesday morning (Dec. 27) during an inauguration ceremony for Cheung Aek Sewage Treatment Plant in Phnom Penh.

Samdech Thipadei also expressed disbelief that a senior official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance would fail to recognize the nature of a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project.

"I find it hard to believe that a senior official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance lacks the knowledge, capability, and experience to differentiate between a loan and a BOT project," the premier underscored.

Samdech Thipadei clarified that debt is an obligation of the Royal Government, undertaken responsibly for the citizens and the next generation. The Royal Government does not borrow to the point of bankruptcy; it adheres to annual reviews mandated by law to assess its repayment capacity and support the economy.

These statements were prompted by The Cambodia Daily's article on 26 December 2023, which claimed that a senior official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance disclosed information indicating that the Royal Government of Cambodia borrowed not only USD 1.7 billion from China for the Funan Techo Canal but also USD 5 billion for the canal, ports, and addressing Cambodia's economic crisis.
=FRESH NEWS