Half of construction work completed on China-aided stadium in Cambodia

Li An, the economic and commercial councilor at the Chinese embassy in Cambodia, said the stadium will serve as a symbol of solid friendship between China and Cambodia.

"I believe that the stadium will not only serve as a key venue for sports events, but also be an attractive place for tourists," he said.

According to the master plan, the 39.9-meter-tall stadium will be built in the shape of a sailing ship in which its both prows are 99 meters tall, and it will be encircled by an ancient Angkor-style moat.

The sailing ship symbolizes a long-standing traditional friendship between Cambodia and China because Chinese people used to travel by sailing ship to Cambodia in ancient times, Thong Khon said.

The five-storey stadium covers a 16-hectare parcel in the 85-hectare Morodok Techo National Sports Complex, which is located 18 km north of central Phnom Penh.

It will serve as the main venue for tournaments when Cambodia hosts the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2023.