China donates 98 buses, 2 wreckers to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, July 13 (Xinhua) -- China donated 98 buses and two wreckers to Cambodia on Thursday for public transport service expansion in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

A handover ceremony was held here between Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy Tan Qingsheng and Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Khuong Sreng.

"I believe that these new buses will support Phnom Penh's plan in expanding its public transport service," Tan said, adding that better public transport is vital to reduce traffic jams and to make people travel easier.

Khuong Sreng said the buses and wreckers were worth 57 million Chinese yuan (8.4 million U.S. dollars).

"In my status as the governor of Phnom Penh, I'd like to express my profound gratitude to the Chinese government for constantly supporting the development of physical infrastructure in Cambodia, particularly in Phnom Penh," he said.

According to the governor, Phnom Penh launched public transport service in 2014. Currently, a fleet of 43 buses are operating along three routes, and about 7,000 people use the service every day.

He said the new buses will be used to operate along other five roads in the city.