Remarks at the The Opening of Construction Site to Build 69.56 km of National Road No. 78 from Ratanakiri Town (Banlung) to Cambodia-Vietnam Border (O’Yadauv) With the Concessional Loan from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Your Majesties, Your Excellencies Member of Senate, National Assemble and the Government’

Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Delegates of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ladies and Gentlemen, National and International Guests,

Beloved Teachers, Students and Compatriots,

Today, I have a great pleasure to participate with H.E.Troung Vinh Trong, Deputy Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) in the opening of the construction site to build National Road No 78 from Banlung, provincial town, toO’Yadauv, Cambodia-Vietnam border, financed by concessional loan from the Government of Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the counterpart fund of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

In this auspicious occasion, through H.E. Deputy Prime Minister of SRV, I would like to convey deep gratitude from People and Government of Cambodia to People and Government of SRV, who always support Cambodia both during peace and war times as well as during the time that Cambodian people are rebuilding and developing their country. Certainly, Vietnam has helped in the development of Cambodia in many areas, especially in the restoration and development transport infrastructures. Now, Vietnam has offered concessional loan to build a segment of National Road No. 78 from Ratanakiri provincial town toO’Yadauv International Border Check Point of Cambodia and Vietnam in order to promote economic growth and create job opportunities for Cambodian people, thus improving living standard and rapidly reducing poverty.

At the same time, the two countries have put concerted effort to deepen, as the neighboring country, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-lasting stability. On behalf of People and the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to highly appreciate and take into account the valuable gesture of the People and Government of SRV that would be remembered in our history and in the hearts of every Cambodian.

The construction of National Road No. 78 from Banlung, Ratanakiri provincial Town to O’Yadauv, Cambodia-Vietnam border, is a part of development in the North and Northeast region of Cambodia which is very potential in promoting economic growth. Indeed, the region is favorable for industry, agriculture and tourism and need an effective road network for transportation, exchange of goods and products within the country and between neighboring countries.

In addition, it should be noted that the building of National Road No. 78 from Banlung to O’Yadauv is at the time when Cambodia need potential means for promoting economic growth in order to develop the country by integrating itself into regional and global economies aiming at taking advantage in order to increase volume of trade in all sectors.

The National Road No. 78 from Banlung to O’Yadauv is also a part of the continuing efforts to successfully implement theRectangular Strategy of the Royal Government that comprehensively cover all sectors to promote growth, create job, ensureequity and efficiency in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals with clear future direction focusing on pro-poor and pro-rural development.

The Royal Government of Cambodia considers the National Road No. 7 being a main road for the national and international transport of the region and the international community also considers the National Road No. 7 as the ASEAN Highway 11. I frequently compare it to an Asia’s Mythical Dragon represent of supremacy with moral and justice. The Mythical Dragon of Cambodia has the Head in Sihanoukville Seaport, National Road No. 4 to Phnom Penh being the Neck, National Road No. 6A and 7 to the border of Kampong Cham and Kratie being its body and the segment of National Road No. 7 from Kratie toTrapaing Kriel, Cambodia-Laos border, being its tail. The National Road No. 78 from O’Pongmon, intercepts the National Road No. 7 in Steng Treng Provincial town, to O’Yadauv, Cambodia-Vietnam border is its left rear-foot. Therefore, the segment of National Road No. 78 from Banlung to O’Yadauv that we are opening the construction site now, is dragon’s toe that has very important role to support the movement of the Supremacy Dragon and is an important respiration and vein for Cambodia’s economy and the region which facilitate the good cooperation between Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos.

Moreover, according to the report of H.E. Minister of Public Works and Transport and the construction blueprint, the National Road No. 78 is a very effective road for the transportation in the north sub-corridor among the most three important sub-corridors of the south economic corridor in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. This road links the road network in this Greater Mekong Sub-Region from east to the west and links the Seaport in Vietnam to Steng Treng, Preah Vihear and World Heritage Sites in Siem Reap and Oddor Meanchey and connects Bangkok through Poi Pet. In the near future, the dragon tail which is the segment of National Road No. 7 from Kratie to Trapaing Kriel will be re-vitalized; at the same time the dragon toe fromBanlung to O’Yadauv will be finished. Gradually, the Dragon will be re-vitalized with full supremacy pushing economic growth and elevating living standard of Cambodia people out of poverty because the northern part is favorable for agro-industry such as international standard quality of rubber, cassava, soybean, cashew, sesame, cotton, tea, coffee and especially the cold climate fruit trees such as avocado, grapes and etc. In addition to the plantation, it is a natural tourism place because of pleasant weather climate, waterfall and historical lake that could attract national and international tourists. Moreover, the segment of National Road No. 78 serves as the potential road connection for goods transportations among the three countries leading to the development and good cooperation in the Dragon Tail Triangle Zone in the Northern Part of Cambodia with Vietnam and Laos.

Furthermore, being the part of ASEAN Highway 11, this road will connect Kunming of China crossing Vietnam, Laos andPhnom Penh to international sea port in Sihanoukville via National Road No. 4 or Cambodia railway towards Bangkok viaPoi Pet.

At the same time, there should be noted that in the past the traffics, transportations of goods, communications among people in this area with other regions were difficult because the portion of this national road used to be the red gravel one and has been damaged owing to lack of maintenance. Due to this reason, people in the area are isolated from other regions as well as from Phnom Penh. Furthermore, the rehabilitation and improving of the last potion of this National Road No. 78 is a key in order to further connect from Banlung to O’Pongmon, since it is easier to import raw materials and technology from Vietnam via the road from Banlung to O’Yadauv.

On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and myself, I commit to continue exert efforts and fully support development in all sectors, in particular considering the rehabilitation, development and maintenance of transportation infrastructures as a policy priority that can help the government to achieve its ultimate goals of rapid poverty reduction of our population becausewhere there is road there is hope; it can ease the transportation of goods to market places, attract investments and tourisms, facilitate construction of hospitals, schools and create business activities for people.

Based on this view and being proud of achievements that we all together have attained with great struggle and in the spirit of profound optimism of Cambodian’s bright future, I would like to convey to ministries and institutions of the Royal Government, authorities at all levels, especially managements and civil servants of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to continue their cooperation and to fulfill their responsibilities in order to connect road network between all areas in country and also with neighboring countries. Moreover, participations, supports and understanding of our people are also important for the construction and maintenance of all these roads and bridges.

Furthermore, on behalf of the People and Government of Cambodia, I would like to express my gratitude to People and Government of many friendly counties and development partners for their assistants and contributions as well as mental and material supports in socio-economic development of Cambodia, in particularly trough improvement and construction of transportation infrastructures. I also would like to extend my appreciation and encouragement to the managements and civil servants, workers and employees of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, local authorities and all relevant agencies for their cooperation and utmost efforts to ensure successful achievements of strategic plan that the government has adopted, in particular the construction of this portion of National Road No. 78.

I also would like to congratulate the CIENCO 1, the implementer of this construction project to build the portion of National Road No. 78 together with local company and TSC, and the Khmer Cooperation Company that is a consulting firm for technical control to ensure international level technical standard and to finish construction as planned or before the deadline.

Before concluding, I would like to wish you all, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, students and teachers with the five gems of Buddhist Blessings. I would like to declare the opening of the site for construction of National Road No. 78 from Banlung toO’Yadauv from now on.