Phnom Penh (FN), May 16 – Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen thanked Vietnamese environmentalists for noting that the water level in the Funan Techo canal is very low compared to the current amount of water flowing from Viet Nam to the sea.

The senate president spoke on Thursday (May 16) in a special message related to Funan Techo Canal.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen underscored, "I would like to thank the Vietnamese scientists who stated that the canal's impact is minimal compared to the Mekong River's flow. Even in the context of agricultural usage, the canal's impact is minor compared to the Mekong River. It does not need to decrease by up to 50 per cent, as some institutions have erroneously claimed."

Samdech Techo Hun Sen affirmed the need to push for practical implementation of the waterway project and urged the Cambodian people to recognise the broader economic and social benefits of achieving political independence in water transport.

"Some foreign commentators have suggested, and I believe correctly, that if Cambodia can construct this canal (Funan Techo canal), Viet Nam's influence over Cambodia will diminish. I acknowledge this, because when we depend on their resources, they have leverage over us, allowing them to set terms. However, it should not reach a point where their demands are unreasonable,” Samdech Techo further underscored.

It should be noted that according to First Vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia Sun Chanthol, during the dry months, the Mekong River flows into the sea at about 8,000 cubic meters per second, and the Tonle Bassac River at 1,400 cubic meters per second. Meanwhile, the Funan Techo canal project will channel water into the sea at 5 cubic meters per second, which is only 0.053 per cent of the total.
=FRESH NEWS