Officials in Cambodia inaugurated the country's biggest airport on Thursday. The facility was constructed with the help of a Chinese loan. It is being hailed as a new gateway to one of the nation's most important tourist attractions, Angkor Wat.

Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is located about 40 kilometers east of the Angkor Wat temple complex. It is designed to handle seven million passengers a year. There are also plans to expand the facility. It will be able to serve up to 12 million travelers by 2040.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet attended the inauguration ceremony with a Chinese delegation.
He said that the airport represents the fruit of peace. He added that it is a product of the friendship between Cambodia and China.
The 1.1 billion dollar project is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Cambodia's economy is growing, due in large part to China's financial support. Beijing is the country's largest investor. It is currently sponsoring a series of other development projects in Cambodia, apart from the airport.