During Xi Jinping’s last visit to Cambodia in 2009 as China's Vice President, he announced a major program of loans and aid for the country. One of the showpiece projects was the construction of a new port on the Mekong River, a major point of entry for cargo to Cambodia.
The port was built by a Chinese company, with a loan of 28 million US dollars from the Chinese government and it is now handling more than 160,000 shipping containers annually. Business is growing by 20 percent a year.
The project was part of program by China to assist its regional neighbors, and also part of its “One Belt, One Road” initiative to improve connectivity across Asia and beyond. Relations between China and Cambodia have never been closer.
"Cambodia is a developing country and we need assistance from our neighbors, especially from China. We are a poor country with a small income but with China’s help we hope to build a stronger economy,” said Yim Choeurn, head of operations of Phnom Penh Autonomous Port.
"To do good business, we have to meet the interests of both sides. It’s good for Cambodia to get the loan from China and we hope it’s good for China to increase its business with Cambodia.”
China will continue to play a part in the development of the port. The Beijing government is proposing to build a railway directly linking the port to Phnom Penh and on to Cambodia’s national rail network.
