Vietnam speaks out about Cambodia's groundbreaking of the Phu Nam Techo Canal
Báo Dân trí•19/11/2024
(Dan Tri) - According to the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Vietnam supports development efforts, respects Cambodia's implementation of the Phu Nam Techo Canal project, and wishes to jointly study and comprehensively assess the project's impact.
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of August 8, the press asked about Vietnam's reaction to the event of Cambodia starting construction of the Phu Nam Techo Canal project on August 5. In response, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet emphasized that the Mekong River is a priceless asset, connecting the special solidarity and friendship between the three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Accordingly, Vietnam hopes that riparian countries, including Cambodia, will cooperate together to effectively and sustainably manage and develop the Mekong River. This is done for the benefit of the community of people in the river basin, as well as for the future of future generations and the solidarity between the countries along the river. "In that spirit, Vietnam supports Cambodia's development efforts and respects Cambodia's implementation of the Phu Nam Techo Canal project. We also wish to coordinate research and comprehensively assess the project's overall impact, as well as take appropriate measures to minimize the impact," said Mr. Viet.
Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet answers questions about Cambodia starting construction of the Phu Nam Techo Canal project (Photo: BNG).
On August 5, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet attended the launching ceremony of the $1.7 billion canal project. The project aims to open a new route from the Mekong River to the sea. At the event, amid fireworks and drum beats, the Cambodian Prime Minister called the 180km project "historic". The event was attended by thousands of Cambodians. "We must build this canal at all costs," Mr. Hun Manet said. Previously, the Cambodian Prime Minister announced that the project would be carried out by a joint venture between Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, a private company with 51% ownership, and foreign investors under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) contract.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his wife pressed the button to start construction of the Funan Techo Canal on August 5 (Photo: AFP).
According to the plan, the Funan Techo Canal will be 100m wide upstream, 80m wide downstream, and 5.4m deep. The canal will stretch about 180km (just over 10km less than the Suez Canal) from Phnom Penh to Cambodia's coastal province of Kep. The canal will run through four provinces, including Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep, with a total population of 1.6 million people living along the waterway. The project is expected to be completed in 2028. According to President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen, the Funan Techo Canal will help increase market competitiveness for Cambodian goods by reducing transportation costs, and the canal will also serve as an irrigation system in southwestern Cambodia. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said the water flow through the Funan Techo Canal is expected to be 5m3/s, equivalent to 0.053% of the Mekong River flow. The canal will be used for land irrigation and fishing.
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