– Your Venerable Monk,
– Her Excellency ZHANG JIN FENG, Ambassador of the People Republic of China to Cambodia
– Your Excellencies, Ladies, Gentlemen, Members of the Assembly, Senate and the Royal Government,
– Ambassadors, Royal Ambassadors, National and International Guests,
– Beloved Teachers and Students!
Today, I am very delighted to once again participate with H.E. Ambassador of the People Republic of China in the inauguration ceremony of the construction site of National road No.8 (109 km.) from Ksach Kandal (Prek Tamak) toAnlongchrey (Cambodia-Viet Nam Border) by using loans from the PRC and partial funding from the Royal Government of Cambodia. Taking this auspicious opportunity, I would like to send deep appreciations from the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, through H.E. ZHANG JIN FENG, to the PRC and Chinese people who are old friends and aids providers in all sectors, especially, for the development and rehabilitation of Cambodia’s transportation infrastructures, and who are recently, provided Cambodia with $300 million USD worth of loans for the construction of important roads and bridges which includes the construction of the National Road No.8 that we are inaugurating here in front of us in contributing to the promotion of economic growth and employments generation, aims at upgrading the living standard of Cambodian people away from poverty. On behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, I would like to highly value and recognize the profound attitude of the government and the people of China in the history and heart of every Cambodian citizen.
As has already been mentioned a moment ago by His Excellency Sun Chhan Thol, Minister of the Ministry of Public Work and Transport, some sections of the road were built as track roads by using only red gravels and as the temporary means of transportation for people living around Ksach Kandal, Kom Jai Mear and Svay Ontour districts to travel to Phnom Penh and other places in the central region and western part of the country, by ferry or boats from Prek Tamak’s port which can only be done in the dry season, because during the rainy season, this region as well as the entire road is flooded and being destroyed by the force of flowing water.
Therefore, seeing the difficulty of the people in using this road, the Royal Government has placed tremendous efforts into the reconstruction of some old sections of the road (in a total of 19.6 km.) in which the new National Road No.8 bypassed, by paving 6-meter on the 8-meter wide road for the people living in the area to be able to use it again.
In achieving this work, the Royal Government has been determined in looking for the fund to enhance the policies on the construction of road-bridge infrastructures, for instance, the Royal Government has received the supports and loans voluntarily on time from the PRC in constructing this road which aims at making this region fully capable of actively contributing to promote socio-economic growth and be successful in upgrading the living standard of the people living around this region as well as those people across the country. Moreover, I would like to emphasize that, after the opening of the construction site for this National Road No.8, we will have another plan to construct another road (a total of 20 km. long)from Anlongchrey to the National Road No.7 at Ponghea Krek. If we compare the traveling distance from Phnom Penh to the northeastern part of the country via the National Road No.7 and No.8 we can see that people can save a lot of time by traveling on that 20 km. long short-cut.
If I have not forgotten, the opening of this construction site has been carried out according to the promise and commitment that I have personally made since the late Second Legislative of the Royal Government, to successfully construct this road to serve the need of the people and contribute to the development of the country. I have a strong believe that after this road is built, together with the construction of Prek Tamak and Prek Kdam Bridges which will be in operation soon. The Cambodia-Viet Nam’s border will then become a large international border which could provide the benefits for the national and household economy of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia as well as Viet Nam. The primary benefit includes roads and bridges which provide us with the opportunity to strengthen and expand the horizon, investment climate, international trade to turn all the Cambodia’s borders into development and cooperation zones with neighboring countries as the mean to bring about peace, harmony, stability which are the important foundations for enhancing economic growth and for Cambodia’s social development.
On behalf of the Royal Government, I still strongly hold my position to pursue the willingness and provide full supports to enforce the rehabilitation and development in all sectors, notably, on the renovation, development and maintenance of transportation infrastructure which is the priority policy that assist the Government to succeed its main objective of rapid poverty reduction for Cambodian people. Meanwhile I would like to convey to the administrative authorities at all levels and all the leaders, including government officials of the Ministry of Public Work and Transport, must continue to collaborate further to maintain, repair and link the transportation roads to every part of the country and to the neighboring countries with high quality as soon as possible. At the same time, the participation in providing the supports and understanding of the people is the most important factor to enhance the construction process of those roads and bridges.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all citizens to join the upcoming communal election. Whilst, I would like to confirm that what the Royal Government most desired is the guarantee for this communal election process to proceed freely and fairly; in a peaceful environment, with public security as well as having social and politic stability during and after the election in the direction of enhancing the democracy, fundamental right respect, and the dignity of Cambodian people. Besides, what concerns the Royal Government the most is the security and safety issue that requires the participation from all stakeholders which include all the political parties, arm forces, security and safety keepers for the people as well as the local authorities and all the people.
Meanwhile, I would like to appeal to all political parties to remain calm, discipline, and safe for the forthcoming election, and from the tomorrow’s kick-off election campaign, each political party must maintain its own dignity to adhere to all the rules as determined in the election campaign law in using its own political programs to attract votes from the people.
On behalf of the Royal Government and the Cambodian people, I would like to express my sincere thank to the governments, and the people of partner countries, and all the donors who always provided with both mental and physical supports for the rehabilitation and development of Cambodia in all sectors, especially, to the people and the government of the People Republic of China who provided the unconditional loans to timely and appropriately meet the need of Cambodia in promoting its economic growth and developing the country.
I would like to congratulate, appreciate and encourage the cohesive cooperation between the leaders and officials, employees of the Ministry of Public Work and Transport and the local authorities and other line ministries that have tried their bests to get together to ensure the achievement of the strategic plan which released by the Royal Government, notably, on the establishment of roads, bridges, railways, water gateway, airports and ports within the country. I would like to felicitate and encourage the Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company which is the contracting company responsible for the construction of the National Road No.8, and the Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co., Ltd, a Chinese company which responsible for the successful construction of this main national road according to the international standard before or on time.
Before coming to the end, I would like to wish your vulnerable monks, his and her excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and international guests, our compatriots, lecturers, and all the students with Five Gems of Buddhist Blessings. I would like to declare the inauguration of the construction site of the National Road No.8 from Ksach Kandal to Anlongchey, Cambodia-Viet Nam border from now on.
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