STORY: China-funded water resource protection project inaugurated in Cambodia
DATELINE: June 20, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:19
LOCATION: KOH KONG, Cambodia
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the inauguration ceremony of LMC-funded water resource protection project
2. various of an overflow dam
3. various of a bridge
4. various of the pure water treatment system at a primary school
5. various of students
6. SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SOK CHAN, Local resident
7. various of the pure water treatment system at a primary school
8. various of an overflow dam
9. SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): MOEUN EN, Local resident
10. various of a bridge
11. SOUNDBITE 3 (Khmer): TUOT HATIMA, Thma Bang district governor
12. various of crop fields

STORYLINE:

A China-funded water resource protection project was inaugurated on Sunday in Thma Bang district of southwest Cambodia's Koh Kong province.

The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC)-funded project is regarded as a demonstration project for integrated management of typical small river basins.

Under the project, a concrete bridge and an overflow dam over the Kayang river, along with a fruit tree irrigation system, were constructed, and a reverse osmosis drinking water treatment system was installed at the Kokichrum Primary School.

It was undertaken by the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute of Changjiang Water Resources Commission under China's Ministry of Water Resources, and constructed by Cambodian Tatay Hydropower Ltd.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SOK CHAN, Local resident
"When there was no bridge, overflow dam, and small river basins, our villagers faced many challenges, particularly farmers. They faced a shortage of water for irrigating their crops, so their crop yields were very low. Now, we're very happy that typical small river basins, the bridge, and the overflow dam are put into use. This project will provide significant benefits to our people and I believe that, from now on, we will no longer face a shortage of water."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): MOEUN EN, Local resident
"We hope that after this project is carried out, our livelihoods will be improved, and won't be difficult as before. I hope it will help control and protect water resources, and I'd like to thank China for supporting our village's development."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Khmer): TUOT HATIMA, Thma Bang district governor
"The project will provide a lot of benefits to local people, providing them with irrigation water, and the bridge will facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce. More than 1,300 households will be benefitting from this project."

China initiated the LMC Special Fund in 2016 with the aim of supporting small and medium-sized cooperation projects put forward by the six Lancang-Mekong countries, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Koh Kong, Cambodia.
(XHTV)