Cambodia

Inaugurated in 2001, the Kizuna Bridge in Kampong Cham quickly became a powerful national symbol in Cambodia. At the time, it was the first bridge in the country to span the Mekong River from one bank to the other—finally enabling overland travel between the eastern and western regions. More than 10,000 people attended the inauguration ceremony, underlining its historical importance.

A steel link between Cambodia and Japan

Since then, three additional bridges have been built to cross the legendary Mekong River: the Stung Treng Bridge, the Prek Tamak Bridge in Kandal province (south of Phnom Penh), and most recently, the Neak Luong Bridge in Prey Veng province. The latter spans 2.2 kilometers, making it the longest bridge in the country. Still, for nearly a decade, the Kizuna Bridge remained the only direct connection between Cambodia’s eastern and western territories.

This 1.5-kilometer box girder bridge is an extension of Cambodia’s National Road 7. Its construction was made possible thanks to significant financial support from Japan. The Japanese government donated $56 million to the project—yet another example of Japan’s long-standing contribution to Cambodia’s infrastructure development.

Another notable project is the Chroy Changvar Bridge in Phnom Penh, which crosses the Tonle Sap River at the heart of the capital. Originally built in 1963, it was first restored in 1995 with Japanese support and underwent further renovation in 2019, again funded by Japan. Today, it bears the name “Cambodia–Japan Friendship Bridge” in recognition of this close bilateral cooperation.