The Chinese-invested Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has significantly changed the livelihoods of villagers along the route in VoaSar village, located in the Samraong Tong district of southwest Cambodia.Chhay Kimsan, the 69-year-old village chief, stated that the village has a total population of 1,128 villagers, who earn their livelihoods by working in various sectors, with some also employed by the Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd., the operator of the 187-km Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway. He noted that the expressway, opened to traffic in November 2022, has helped transform his formerly poor and tranquil village into a thriving community, where wooden houses with iron-zinc roofs are being replaced by concrete houses or mini villas, and gravel roads are being upgraded to concrete roads. “In the past, their lives were not as good as they are today. They faced many difficulties,” he told Xinhua. He mentioned that the expressway has provided numerous benefits to the villagers, as it is convenient, safe, time-saving, and economical for them to travel. “Since this expressway has been built, they enjoy travelling on it, going to Sihanoukville for leisure,” Kimsan remarked. Kimsan added that the expressway has also spurred a significant rise in land prices along the thoroughfare. “Now, there are considerable changes in their livelihoods because land prices in this area have doubled, allowing them to earn substantial sums by selling their land adjacent to the expressway,” he explained.The village chief noted that, in general, the villagers are pleased with the expressway, as it reflects the country’s rapid development. “I suggest that the company help create more job opportunities so my villagers can earn more money and improve their livelihoods,” Kimsan advised. Mann Piseth, a 40-year-old villager, concurred that the expressway has benefited local residents along the route. “I am very pleased that the expressway runs through our village,” he told Xinhua. “It has made the village more beautiful and has improved the livelihoods of the villagers.” Piseth, who has been offered a job by the expressway operator, remarked that the motorway has provided many employment opportunities for the Cambodian people.“Through this expressway, Cambodia and China have enjoyed an even better relationship,” said the father of four children. Invested in by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at the cost of 2 billion U.S. dollars, the expressway was the first of its kind in Cambodia and represents the largest single project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation between Cambodia and China. The expressway traverses Kandal, Kampong Speu, and Koh Kong provinces. With two lanes for traffic in each direction, plus an emergency lane on each side, vehicles can reach their destinations within two hours via the expressway, as opposed to the five hours required on National Road 4. Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, stated that the expressway plays a crucial role in enhancing travel efficiency and the logistics system. “It is a key strategic route for the Southeast Asian country to boost trade exchanges with the rest of the world and serves as a major road to attract tourists to the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk,” he told Xinhua. “Travelling on the expressway saves both fuel and time and is significantly safer than travelling on ordinary roads,” he added.