8 and is an important channel to the southern coastal cities and ports from the cities in Cambodia like Phnom Penh. China is providing increased funds for building and repairing Cambodian roads, and for water and land transportation projects. China has been funding construction of national roads to Cambodia’s key land border crossings, Bavet and Poipet. The former links the Kingdon with Vietnam while the latter connects it to Thailand. China is also working on the road from the Cambodia’s capital to its largest port city, Sihanoukville. The “One Belt, One Road” project – which includes the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” initiatives – will connect China with countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. It will be especially visible in Mekong Region countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Commercial, trade, tourist, regional and sub-regional cooperation and connectivity between countries located along the belt will be enhanced. According to Chinese sources, the “One Belt, One Road” model has already been put into place in Cambodia, with an estimated 4,000 kilometers of roads. In early April, 2015 was opened to traffic NeakLoeung Bridge with the official name of «SubasaBridge» which reflects the close Cambodia-Japan friendship. Located in NeakLoeung town about 61 kilometers southeast of Phnom Penh, NeakLoeungBridge is built across the Lower Mekong River. It is 13,5 meters wide, 2,215 meters long, and rises 37,5 meters above the highest possible water level. SubasaBridge is a major part of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)’s 2nd East-West Economic Corridor that links Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The road will link to national road N 5 which is planned to be widened to four lanes by 2020. The 2nd corridor will also connect the so-called «North-South Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Growth Corridor» at Phnom Penh which leads to Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia’s principal international port. Airport. Convenient regional airport connections from Sihanoukville places the Morakot Island resort within easy reach from the largest Cambodian cities – Phnom Penh and Siem Reap via direct flights. The commencement of direct international flights to Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s main coastal town marks a significant step forward for the country ’s emerging resort property market. In 2014, the Sihanouk airport authorities have added direct flights to Seoul andGuangzhou, China. On 6th June 2015 Silk Air launched its’ first direct chartered flight from Singapore Changi to Sihanoukville. The area has progressively developed from no flight connectivity to 3 weekly flights to Siem Reap, followed by daily flights with additional services to Phnom Penh. Today Sihanoukville is welcoming direct international flights by Silk Air which will also pave way to
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