BEIJING: On the occasion of Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to China, three Chinese companies — the China Road Construction Company, the China Road and Bridge Corporation and China Metro Group Limited — came to meet with the Cambodian Prime Minister on Thursday afternoon, 9 February 2023.

Three Chinese companies have expressed interest in continuing to invest in the construction of transport infrastructure in Cambodia, after having already invested in the construction of more than 2,000 kilometers of roads and bridges in Cambodia in the past.

The three companies informed Prime Minister Hun Sen about the construction and commissioning of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway. They stated that they will invest in freshwater transport, a wastewater treatment plant in Sihanoukville and a study on the Phnom Penh-Poipet high-speed railway.

The companies also informed the Prime Minister about the project to invest in a lightweight high-speed railway from Siem Reap to the new international airport in Chi Kraeng district. They also informed the Prime Minister about the project to study new investment possibilities in Cambodia for the future, and the completion of a feasibility study on constructing a subway in Phnom Penh, for which a report has been submitted to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for further review and discussion.

In addition, the companies informed Prime Minister Hun Sen about a waterway and port transportation project, wherein a preliminary study of the Tonle Sap, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap has already been conducted on regarding waterway rehabilitation, which will be handed over to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport soon.

Another project the companies spoke of was to develop a wastewater system and sewer network, for which they are conducting a feasibility study and forming a master plan, and to construct wastewater treatment plants in Khemarak Phoumin, Koh Kong, Battambang, and Kampong Cham province.

The three companies further expressed interested in helping to build the Samdech Techo Sen Institute of Public Works and Transport. At the same time, China Bridge and Road Corporation also provided about two million dollars to help build the Techo Sen Hospital in Koh Thom, Kandal Province.

The Prime Minister, in turn, praised the three investment companies that are jointly committed to investing in quality road infrastructure in Cambodia for the future.

Regarding the investment of a light high-speed rail line, the Prime Minister requested China Metro Group Limited to study to build the rail line from Phnom Penh to the new Phnom Penh International Airport, and one within Phnom Penh to ease heavy traffic.