Under the grant aid from China, the construction project for dry dock, pier and slipway rehabilitation in the modernisation centre of Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province kicked off this morning.
The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the National Defence and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian.
Speaking on the occasion, Tea Banh totally rejected the Washington Post’s report, saying that the modernisation of Ream Naval Base will not for China, but for the National Defence of Cambodia.
“Ream Naval Base is small, therefore we need to upgrade our base to protect our nation, territory and sovereignty. Ream Naval Base’s modernisation project is an important strategy for the development of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in accordance with the Ministry of National Defence’s White Paper,” he underlined.
“We want dry dock, pier and slipway rehabilitation as now, the medium ships cannot anchor in Ream, we have to float at the sea, and we don’t have any mean to repair ships,” he continued.
The project, once completed, will significantly drive forward the modernisation of the RCAF Navy, effectively enhance the capability of the RCAF to safeguard Cambodia’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he stressed.
See full article Khmer Times