BEIJING: On the afternoon of October 17, the Cambodian government and a private Chinese company jointly signed three important documents, including one related to the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project which will connect inland Cambodia to sea trade routes.

The key documents included the official launch of the electronic World Trade Platform (eWPT) Cambodia partnership, an agreement between Cambodia’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and Huawei Technologies, and a framework agreement for the Funan Techo Canal Project with the Bridge and Road Corporation of China.

Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the signing ceremony as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Chea Vandeth, Minister of Commerce, Cham Nimmol, and Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol all signed agreements with Chinese companies.

The Funan Techo Canal project was announced by the Cambodian government earlier this year and aims to connect inland Cambodia to the sea to lower the cost of trade and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The waterway project is the first historic project in Cambodia's waterway transportation sector, connecting the Mekong River system to the sea. The canal will run 180km from Takeo Canal on the Mekong River, passing through Ta Ek and Ta Hing Canals on the Bassac River, before passing through Kampot and ending in the seaside town of Kep.

The project is projected to take four years of construction at a cost of $1.7 billion through loans from China. During this time, engineers will build three waterways, 11 bridges, 208 km of sidewalks and other infrastructure across the river.