Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (R, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (L, front) attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Cambodia-China Friendship Tboung Khmum Hospital in Tboung Khmum province, Cambodia, on March 1, 2019. Cambodia on Friday broke ground for the construction of Cambodia-China Friendship Tboung Khmum Hospital here. Speaking at the event, Hun Sen expressed his profound gratitude to China for providing grant aid to Cambodia for the project, saying that it is crucial to improve wellbeing for rural Cambodian people. (Xinhua/Li Lay)
TBOUNG KHMUM, Cambodia, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Friday broke ground for the construction of Cambodia-China Friendship Tboung Khmum Hospital here.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian presided over the ceremony held in Tboung Khmum district in Tboung Khmum province.
Speaking at the event, Hun Sen expressed his profound gratitude to China for providing grant aid to Cambodia for the project, saying that it is crucial to improve wellbeing for rural Cambodian people.
"This is a large hospital, which is a new achievement in Tboung Khmum province," Hun Sen said, adding that "China's aid is very important to support the Cambodian government's social protection policy in providing free medical services, especially for pregnant women."
Meanwhile, Wang said when the construction of the hospital is completed, China will also send doctors to help train their Cambodian counterparts so as to provide a more efficient treatment for patients.
"We hope that this hospital will become a bridge connecting the friendship between China and Cambodia," he said.
Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bunheng said the 300-bed hospital, to be built on the land area of 24,300 square meters, will be equipped with high-technology medical equipment.
"It will become a regional hospital that will also provide medical services to people in neighboring Kratie, Rattanakiri, Stung Treng and Mondulkiri provinces," he said.
