The 70km-long and 9m-wide Highway 78, which runs from Ban Lung through Bokeo and Oyada towns in Cambodia to Vietnam's border-gate Le Thanh, will be completed in 30 months at a cost of US$25.8 million, sourced from the Vietnamese Government's preferential credits.

Speaking at the upgrading ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said that the two countries' cooperation in the project attests to the firm determination of both the Vietnamese and Cambodian Governments and people to strengthen bilateral ties.

When it is completed, the highway will benefit the Cambodian people and the Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia development triangle as it will create an additional East-West corridor connecting Cambodia's Rattanakiri province with the Central Highlands and central sea ports in Vietnam, said Deputy PM Trong.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked to the Vietnamese Government and people for assisting Cambodia in upgrading its Highway 78 which is very important for Cambodia's northeastern provinces in the exchange of farm products and other commodities with other countries in the region.

This is an initial step for Rattanakiri province as well as Cambodia to integrate into the development triangle area, he affirmed.

The Cambodian PM also thanked the Vietnamese Government for its help in building a boarding school in Ban Lung town and a market in the centre of Oyada town in Rattanakiri province.

In the context of many difficulties, assistance of the Vietnamese Government and people to the Cambodian Government and people re-affirmed the solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two nations and people, which have been fostered through many historical periods, noted the Cambodian Governmental leader.

VNA/VOVNews