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Cambodia on Thursday opened its newest and largest airport, a China-funded project designed to serve as an upgraded gateway to the country’s main tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwestern province of Siem Reap.
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is located approximately 40 km (25 mi) east of Angkor Wat and covers 700 hectares (1,730 acres) with a 3,600-meter (11,810-foot) runway. The airport can handle 7 million passengers per year and plans to increase its annual capacity to 12 million starting in 2040.
The airport, which began operations on October 16 with the first flight arriving from neighboring Thailand, replaces an old airport about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the popular tourist attraction.
Thursday’s inauguration ceremony was presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, China’s Yunnan Province Governor Wang Yubo and other officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hun Manet said the old airport was too close to Angkor Wat and there were concerns that vibrations from planes flying over would damage the temple’s foundations.
Tourism is one of the main pillars of Cambodia’s economy. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia received about 3.5 million international tourists in the first eight months of 2023, compared with about 6.6 million foreign tourists in the whole of 2019, the last year before the outbreak of the new crown epidemic.
“I hope that 2024 will be the beginning year of the development and rebirth of our tourism industry in Siem Reap province,” said Hong Manet.
China is Cambodia’s most important ally and aid donor, and has a strong influence on the Cambodian economy, as evidenced by the numerous Chinese-funded projects, hotels and casinos in the capital, Phnom Penh, and across the country. Chinese state-owned banks have financed the construction of airports, roads and other infrastructure with Chinese loans. More than 40% of Cambodia’s $10 billion in foreign debt is owed to China.
The new airport, with an investment of approximately US$1.1 billion, was funded by Angkor International Airport (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Yunnan Investment Holding Co., Ltd., under a 55-year build-operate-transfer agreement.
Wang Yubo, governor of Yunnan Province, said on behalf of the Chinese government that the opening of the airport reflects the deep friendship between the two peoples and also promotes the development of bilateral economic relations.
The project is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious plan that calls for Chinese companies to build transportation, energy and other infrastructure overseas using loans from China Development Bank. The goal is to boost trade and economic development by improving China’s connections with the rest of the world and creating a 21st-century version of the Silk Road from China to the Middle East and Europe.
Another Chinese-funded airport is under construction at a cost of $1.5 billion to serve the capital. The new Phnom Penh International Airport, formally known as Techo International Airport, will cover 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres) and is expected to be completed in 2024.
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