KRATIE: A new 93.56-kilometer-long stretch of National Road No. 7 in Kratie Province, constructed from a $39 million-dollar grant from China, was officially inaugurated on Monday morning. The ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior ministers. This road is part of the Asian Highway 11 (AH11) and will help to promote the development of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV DTA).

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Sun Chanthol, stated that this road is part of AH11 and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Corridor, which connects Kunming in Southern China through Vientiane, Laos; Phnom Penh, and toward the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

He added that National Road No. 7 will play an important role in promoting the development of the CLV DTA, which will help to develop more remote areas of the three countries, particularly the provinces of Tbong Khmum, Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri in Cambodia.

The Senior Minister stated that the new stretch of road extends from the roundabout in the village of Kapo, Sangkat Or Russey, Kratie to Romeat village, Or Kreang commune in Sambo district. He also added that the road’s surface pavement has been upgraded with Asphalt Concrete (AC) from its previous Double Bituminous Surface Treatment Pavement (DBST), based on conclusions from an updated study on the increase in traffic, combined with national economic growth, trade, investment and tourism, in Cambodia.

He continued that the project to improve the quality of National Road 7 was conducted under a grant from the Chinese government, began construction in November 2016 and was completed in December 2018, by the Shanghai Construction Corporation (SCG) and under the technical supervision of Guangzhou Wanan Technical Consulting.

He said, "This new achievement is an invaluable and precious bond that arises from the strong friendship and cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of the People's Republic of China, to the people of Kratie Province and the people across the country, for general and long-term use.”

The Senior Minister further affirmed that National Road No. 7 will connect Phnom Penh through major provinces such as Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Kratie, and Stung Treng, towards the fourth economic pole of Cambodia in the northeast of the country, and which will serve the direct traffic of economic, trade and tourism exchange activities in the country.