KRATIE, Cambodia — Cambodia inaugurated a Chinese-funded stretch of National Road No 7 on Feb 7, which connects rural and urban areas in Northeastern province.

Linking between Kratie provincial town and Sambour district, the 93.5-km-long and 11-meter-wide road was built by the Shanghai Construction Group under the grant aid from the Chinese government, and it took 24 months to be completed.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian presided over the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by more than 1,000 people.

Speaking at the event, Hun Sen said the construction had been made after the road had been devastated by floods in past years and that the road would greatly contribute to improving the livelihoods of local people.

"China's grant aid for the repair of this road has importantly contributed to connectivity in Cambodia's northeastern region," he said. "COVID-19 has disrupted but cannot stop our development."

He also thanked the Shanghai Construction Group for building the road in good compliance with technical standards.

Ambassador Wang is confident that the road will play an important role in reducing poverty in the northeastern region of Cambodia effectively.