The canal will be an alternative for ships that cross into Vietnam before heading to the sea.
Cambodian officers hold balloons at the construction site of the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel in Kandal, Cambodia, on Aug 5.
“We must build this canal at all costs,” said Mr Manet, who drew cheers as he launched the project by pressing a ceremonial button with his wife Pich Chanmony. The project also comes shrouded in uncertainty, including its main purpose – whether for shipping or irrigation – who will fund it, and how it will affect the flow of the Mekong – one of the world’s longest rivers.
People arrive at the construction site of the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel in Kandal province, Cambodia, on Aug 5, 2024. PHOTO: EPA-EFEPhnom Penh argues the project affects only a Mekong tributary and therefore requires only the notification it has already submitted. Some, who live near the canal, said they were not invited to join the event, saying they watched the ceremony from home with mixed feelings.
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