The third ring road has been named “Xi Jinping Boulevard”, 60 years after a major thoroughfare in Phnom Penh was named Mao Tse-Tung Boulevard by King Norodom Sihanouk in honor of the iconic Chinese leader. The boulevard, which stretches 53 kilometers, connects National Road 1 to National Road 4.
The Cambodian government has said the name holds a “great significance” for the Cambodian-Chinese iron-clad relationship.
On Tuesday, outgoing Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian met Prime Minister Hun Manet to bid farewell but not before both presided over the ceremony to name the road.
On its official Facebook page, the Chinese embassy said the road name reflects Cambodia’s “deep gratitude” to the Chinese President’s contribution to the Kingdom’s development. The name by the Cambodian government is an addition to the existing Mao Tse Tung Boulevard, which perfected the traditional friendship between the countries, it added.
In 1965, King Norodom Sihanouk, the father of Khmer independence, territorial integrity and national unity, proferred the name Mao Tse Tung for the road.
“Sixty years later, Samdech Thipadei named another section of the road Xi Jinping Boulevard, forming another major milestone that shows the two countries’ relations have a long history and are strong, continuing from the past and into a new future,” the post mentioned.
During their meeting, Wentian affirmed the Chinese government’s continued support and contribution to the socio-economic development of Cambodia.
The Xi Jinping Boulevard runs from National Road 4 at Chumpou Voan village, Chaom Chao 3 commune in Por Senchey district to National Road 1 at Sdao Kanleang village, Dei Ith commune, Kien Svay district in Kandal province.
It costs more than $273 million to build, with concessional loan by the Chinese government while the Cambodian government was responsible for the resolution of the land issue impacting the people due to the project. It also ensured the area was cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance.
According to Hun Manet’s Facebook post, the belt and road initiative has contributed to Cambodia’s socio-economic development, with several big projects established to date.
They include the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway and Siem Reap Angkor International Airport while the Phnom Penh to Bavet Expressway will be built in future. As of now, China has constructed nearly 4,000 kilometers of roads in Cambodia.
Hun Manet said Cambodia and China have a historical and long standing relationship which has become “inseparable”. The relationship holds strong values and mutual trust, especially political trust.
“China’s assistance not only helps socio-economic development but also strengthens Cambodia’s political independence,” he added.
When contacted, government spokesperson Pen Bona declined to comment on the decision to name the road Xi Jinping Blvd, referring the reporter to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT) instead.
Spokesperson of MoPWT Phan Rim replied that the naming of the third ring road reflected the long-standing friendship between Cambodia and China, a friendship of “steel and diamonds”, and is “etched in the hearts of people”.
He added that it was “invaluable”, a show of gratitude by the Cambodian government and people to Xi Jinping and China, which have “always supported” peace, stability and economic growth in Cambodia as well as improved the living standards of Cambodians.
Many other roads have been named after countries as a sign of friendship and cooperation with Cambodia, such as the Russian Federation Boulevard, Phnom Penh-Hanoi Friendship Boulevard and Cambodia-Maldives Friendship Street.
Seng Vanly, an Asia Pacific geopolitical observer, told CamboJA News that the naming of Xi Jinping Boulevard is not new, as other Cambodian roads also have names of international leaders or countries to symbolize their close friendship.
While the government has mentioned that the naming of the new road “meant a lot” to Cambodia and China’s iron-clad ties, Vanly said the West would “certainly be more concerned about this relationship”.
However, with regards to Hun Manet’s remarks about China’s assistance to Cambodia and the strengthening of political independence, Vanly said the countries which are prone to having Chinese relations quickly are those that are concerned about their domestic political regime.
He added that without China’s aid or economic cooperation, many developing countries that are relying on Western have to adapt to their democratic principles. This will affect their interest, especially their political regime.
China focuses on economic relations, investment and trade with other countries as part of its diplomatic strategy, it does not focus on political regimes, Vanly shared.
“The use of aid or economic relations from China for the ‘elimination’ of opposition leaders, social activists or environmental activists to advance its political agenda, is not a matter of national unity,” he said.
