PHNOM PENH: Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the nearly 150-kilometer National Road No. 48, which has been built as a concessional loan from the South Korean government, Prime Minister Hun Sen has thanked Korea for showing interest on helping building the Cambodian-Korean Friendship bridge over the Mekong River to connect Phnom Penh to the island of Arey Ksat.

South Korean Ambassador to Cambodia Park Hyung-Kyung said that the decision to build the Cambodian-Korean Friendship Bridge is responded to the open request of Prime Minister Hun Sen during the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Road No. 2 and No. 22 in February 2020.

According to the ambassador, a Korean company has conducted a feasibility study and recently submitted a report to the Cambodian government, and based on this report, the Cambodian government will decide on the construction site and the format of the bridge. Many Koreans are very happy that the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge project across the Mekong River in Phnom Penh has received the interest and participation of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

"I believe that the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge will not only contribute to traffic congestion in the center of Phnom Penh for the next 100 years, but also become a tourist attraction in Phnom Penh," said the Ambassador. He continued: “Especially if this Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge is built as a beautiful cable-stayed bridge, all Koreans living in Cambodia will commit to travel to Phnom Penh again to see the completed bridge for sure.”

He added that the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge will contribute to improving traffic flow in Phnom Penh and serve as a landmark for Phnom Penh tourism and also become a symbol of continuation and strengthening of friendship between Korea and Cambodia.

Regarding the announcement to help build the Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge, Prime Minister Hun Sen congratulated the project of a new bridge for the people of Phnom Penh.

Minister of Public Works and Transport, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol said that the construction of the Cambodian-Korean Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River might start its construction in this year.