AEON Mall, Japan's single- largest shopping mall developer and retailing operator, officially opened here on Monday after 18 months after construction started.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida jointly inaugurated the country's largest modern mall, which is reportedly built at a cost of more than 200 million US dollars.

"For Cambodia, this is a giant shopping mall," Hun Sen said. " The investment shows Japanese confidence in Cambodia's political stability and favorable climate for businesses."

Kishida said the mall would contribute to the development of Cambodian economy and tourism.

"The project will further promote trade and investment ties between the two countries," he said.

Motoya Okada, chief executive officer of AEON Mall, said the four-story mall, situated along Basac River in Phnom Penh's Chamkamon district, covered a total floor area of over 100,000 square meters and cost more than 200 million US dollars.It created some 2,500 jobs, he said.