PURSAT, Cambodia, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Preap Sineath, a local grocer based along National Road 10 here in western Cambodia, has witnessed a significant rise in sales as a growing traffic flow of passengers, tourists, and freight transport has filled the area since the China-funded highway was developed.
For the 35-year-old mother of three residing in Veal Veng district, the newly built corridor has completely transformed local livelihoods. The asphalt highway replaces what was once a narrow, muddy, and challenging trail.
Officially inaugurated on Thursday, the 198.5-kilometer highway connects Battambang province to Koh Kong province, passing directly through Pursat province. The project was constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation.
"National Road 10 is crucial for local travel and goods transportation. It significantly saves travel time and reduces transport costs," Sineath told Xinhua on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony. "It has made it much easier for farmers to transport their agricultural products. Traffic volumes have increased substantially compared to the past, thanks to the smooth road conditions."
She noted that her business is thriving because of the surge in passenger and tourist traffic, which has altered her household's livelihood for the better.
Om Sareth, a 65-year-old farmer in Veal Veng district, shared similar relief, saying that before this arterial route was established, moving goods across the rugged terrain was extremely difficult.
"Now, local growers can transport cash crops like cassava and corn smoothly to regional markets," she told Xinhua.
The mother of four expressed her excitement, noting that because the majority of households in the district depend heavily on farming, National Road 10 provides long-awaited, reliable access to the rest of the country.
"This road has greatly benefited our farmers, who can now transport produce like cassava and corn without worrying about their vehicles getting bogged down like before -- it is bringing happiness and progress to our district," she said.
The arterial corridor also features the Techo Santepheap Russei Chrum Bridge, officially recognized as the tallest bridge in Cambodia. Towering up to 80 meters high and stretching 530 meters long across the Stung Russei Chrum River valley in Veal Veng district, the bridge includes built-in viewing platforms. It has quickly become a prominent landmark, prompting commuters and tourists to halt their journeys to capture photographs of the panoramic, mist-covered mountain scenery.
"Since National Road 10 was so beautifully built, tourists have traveled to our community non-stop," Sareth said, adding that the infrastructure has completely transformed the livelihoods of her family and the broader local population.
"I am deeply grateful to China for helping develop Cambodia, and I wish China even greater development in the future," she added.
Similarly, Duong Thon, a 58-year-old cassava farmer and father of four in Pursat province, emphasized that the highway delivers substantial, compounding economic benefits by enabling seamless regional logistics.
"The key advantages are that farmers can now transport their products from agricultural fields directly to commercial markets much more quickly, while saving significantly on fuel costs," he told Xinhua. "National Road 10 is very beautiful. I used to live in a remote area plagued by many hardships, so seeing this modern road completed makes me absolutely thrilled."
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center at the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said the highway marks a monumental leap forward for Cambodia, stitching together regional connectivity while transforming daily life across Battambang, Pursat, and Koh Kong.
"By linking agricultural hubs directly to seaport logistics, this strategic corridor empowers rural communities with faster market access, while seamless border-to-port transport enhances our trade competitiveness," he told Xinhua.
"Supported by our partnership with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, National Road 10 stands as a practical deliverable of the 'Diamond Hexagon Cooperation,' translating bilateral friendship into tangible, sustainable economic growth for the Cambodian people," Mengdavid said.■
