PHNOM PENH, March 5, 2026 – China’s ambassador to Cambodia said he looks forward to the official opening of the Cambodia–China Mekong Kratie Friendship Bridge, expressing confidence the project will support economic activity and improve mobility for communities along the Mekong River.
In a message posted on social media on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenbin said he expected the bridge to make a positive contribution to Cambodia’s development and facilitate daily travel for residents in the area.
“I look forward to the Cambodia-China Mekong Kratie Friendship Bridge being officially opened and making a positive contribution to promoting Cambodia’s economic development and facilitating people’s daily lives,” he said.
According to Phorn Rim, spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport, construction of the bridge spanning the Mekong River in Kratie province and its connecting road infrastructure has reached 96.84 percent completion.
The bridge is scheduled to open to public traffic on April 1, 2026, ahead of the Khmer New Year holiday period, he said.
The ministry described the Cambodia-China Mekong Kratie Friendship Bridge as a strategic connectivity project designed to strengthen links between communities on the eastern and western banks of the Mekong River. Officials say the project will improve transport connections between Kratie and Kampong Thom provinces, while also integrating with Cambodia’s national highway network.
Authorities say the infrastructure is expected to support economic activity and regional mobility, particularly in Cambodia’s northeastern provinces, where river crossings have historically limited transport efficiency and trade flows.
Cambodia and China have expanded cooperation in infrastructure development over the past decade, including roads, bridges and logistics corridors intended to improve internal connectivity and support regional economic integration. The Kratie bridge forms part of that broader effort to strengthen transport links across the Mekong and connect provincial economies with national markets.
Officials have not publicly detailed additional technical specifications or financing terms for the project in Thursday’s announcement.
The bridge’s opening ahead of the Khmer New Year period is expected to ease seasonal travel and facilitate movement between provinces during one of Cambodia’s busiest annual travel periods.
