Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (R) and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian attend a groundbreaking ceremony of the project to expand and upgrade the section of National Road No. 7 from Skun to Kampong Cham. (Photo from Hun Sen's Facebook account)

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen thanked China on Monday for providing assistance to the country’s infrastructure construction, which has greatly promoted the development of Cambodia’s economy.

It would be difficult for Cambodia to develop its infrastructure without China’s support, said Hun Sen while referring to China’s assistance including preferential loans at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project to expand and upgrade the section of National Road No. 7 from Skun to Kampong Cham.

“If not China, who will help us build roads and bridges? Without China, there would be no vaccine for Cambodian people,” Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen also referred to China’s help with combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

“China provided us with vaccine assistance and sold vaccines at low prices, which enabled Cambodia to quickly control the pandemic and reduce the mortality rate. Before mass vaccination, the pandemic caused more than 3,000 deaths in a short time, which is regrettable," Hun Sena added.

According to him, Cambodia and China enjoy an iron-clad friendship and a community with a shared future. He pointed out that the country has built more than 3,000 kilometers of road and nine bridges under China’s support, and hundreds of kilometers of road is under construction.