Indian cultural honcho proposed an exchange of languages course opportunity, with their Hindi-speakers taking a Khmer course to strengthen cultural cooperation with Cambodia, according to India’s embassy in Phnom Penh via an earlier press statement.

The proposal was made during a meeting between Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and Minister of Culture Phoeurng Sackona on August 29.

Sahasrabuddhe had visited Cambodia for the very first time on August 27-30.

During the meeting with the culture minister, Sahasrabuddhe proposed that the Hindi language be taught at some universities in Cambodia while the Khmer language be taught at some Indian universities.

Sahasrabuddhe also urged further promotion of the relationship between the younger generation of politicians in the two countries. He said that he expected that these projects would contribute to strengthening cultural relations between their two nations.

Minister Sackona thanked the government of India for supporting Cambodia in various sectors, in particular conservation and restoration of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Preah Vihear temple and she requested that the Indian government continue this support.

The culture ministry said on August 29 that India would continue to support Cambodia heavily in temple conservation projects, as well as in the expansion of the study of Sanskrit and the Khmer language, exchanges of young leaders for political guidance and training, and the support for Asian Traditional Textile Museum in Siem Reap province.