Cambodia names capital's road 'Xi Jinping Boulevard'

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia on Tuesday announced the naming of a ring road encircling parts of the capital Phnom Penh as "Xi Jinping Boulevard" to express its gratitude for the historic contribution the Chinese president has made in promoting Cambodia's development.

At a ceremony naming the road, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said with the care and promotion by President Xi and Cambodian leaders, the Cambodia-China ties have reached an all-time high.

He said that to thank Xi for his historic contribution to Cambodia's development, the Cambodian government decided to name the third ring road stretching from Highway 1 to Highway 4 as "Xi Jinping Boulevard".

"Xi Jinping Boulevard", and the "Mao Zedong Boulevard" in the capital, represent the epitome of the historical inheritance of the Cambodia-China traditional friendship, he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said that in 1965, Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk named a road "Mao Zedong Boulevard" in Phnom Penh. And nearly six decades later, Hun Manet named another road "Xi Jinping Boulevard", marking a new milestone in the long-lasting relationship between the two countries.

China is ready to work hand in hand with Cambodia to build a brighter and better future for the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, Wang said.

"Xi Jinping Boulevard" is located in the southern section of the third ring road in Phnom Penh, spanning about 48 kilometers.

Xinhua