The government plans to hold a three-day workshop starting Sunday in Banteay Meanchey province with the goal of securing a place for Banteay Chhmar temple on the UNESCO World Heritage List, an official from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said.

"We don't yet know when the temple might be listed as a World Heritage site, but we will study the issue, and we expect to develop a plan at the workshop for the UNESCO application," Him Chhem, minister of culture and fine arts, told the Post on Tuesday.

Ung Oeun, governor of Banteay Meanchey province, said he expected around 150 government offcials and UNESCO experts to visit Banteay Chhmar temple on Saturday in advance of the workshop.

Temple damaged by looting

Banteay Chhmar is located about 20 kilometres from the Thai border and has suffered extensive damage from looting in the past several years.

Thailand recently returned seven stolen artefacts from the temple, which were put on display at the National Museum in April.

Ung Oeun said that the Banteay Chhmar site was still endangered, and that government officials hope to work with UNESCO to better preserve it.