Some 2,000 Chinese envoys, led by China’s Culture and Tourism deputy minister, have been in Cambodia since Sunday. Their visit is part of the “China-Cambodia Culture and Tourism Year” celebration.
In February, China’s Culture and Tourism Minister Luo Shugang visited Cambodia and met with the Kingdom’s top officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.
During Shugang’s trip, both governments announced 2019 as “China-Cambodia Culture and Tourism Year”, a programme intended to herald and boost efforts in strengthening both countries’ cultural and tourism ties.
Ministry of Tourism spokesman Chuk Chumno said the envoys entered Cambodia through the international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap before visiting a number of key tourism sites in both cities. The visit is set to end on Saturday.
Chumno noted that the delegation was to meet with Tourism Minister Thong Khon and Ouk Socheat, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, on Tuesday evening.
The ministries, he said, will co-stage a cultural performance highlighting Sino-Cambodian ties alongside their Chinese counterparts on Wednesday.
The cultural soiree, including a banquet dinner, will take place at Koh Pich Theatre and will be attended by Bin Chhin, the permanent Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, Chumno said.
“The collaboration coincides with the ‘China-Cambodia Culture and Tourism Year’ aimed to further promote cultural and tourism exchanges between both countries,” he said.
Cambodia Association of Travel Agents adviser Ho Vandy said the programme is the extension of diplomatic relations between the two governments and will benefit the Kingdom, especially in regard to tourism sector investments.
“We have gained more benefits than [negative] impacts [from tourism],” Vandy said.
The “China-Cambodia Culture and Tourism Year” is expected to enhance cooperation in the sectors between the two countries through the joint promotion of tourism, cultural exchange, human resource development and art performances.