STORY: Chinese-invested expressway enhances travel efficiency in CambodiaSHOOTING TIME: Nov. 7, 2023DATELINE: Nov. 10, 2023LENGTH: 00:01:58LOCATION: Phnom PenhCATEGORY: ECONOMYSHOTLIST:1. various of Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SENG CHIEN, Local resident3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): TOUCH SEREYVUTH, Local resident4. various of Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville ExpresswaySTORYLINE:One year on, the Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has significantly enhanced travel efficiency in Cambodia, giving a boost to the country’s economic growth and tourism development.Invested by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the expressway is the first of its kind in Cambodia and a major project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).With two lanes for traffic in each direction plus an emergency lane on each side, vehicles are able to reach their destinations within two hours through the expressway instead of five hours on National Road 4.SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SENG CHIEN, Local resident”Traveling on this expressway is very convenient and time-saving, and there is no traffic congestion.I saw beautiful scenery on both sides of the road that runs through several provinces and cities.The expressway’s quality is good, and I would like to encourage people to travel on this expressway if they go to Sihanoukville. Traveling on the expressway is much better than traveling on a common road.”SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): TOUCH SEREYVUTH, Local resident”It is good. I traveled on it a few times, and it saved a lot of time.I recommend people to use this expressway because there is no traffic congestion, so they can save some money on the expenses of petrol and vehicle maintenance.”According to the expressway operation company, some 5.19 million vehicles had traveled on the expressway during its first year of operation.Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Phnom Penh.(XHTV)
