Ahead of the 18th International Co-operation Committee meeting in Siem Reap today, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An yesterday led a high-profile delegation to the ground-breaking of  phase four of the Bayon temple restoration.

“The restoration work mainly involves creating structural support for the Bayon central tower, which is 42 metres high, and conservation of the bas-reliefs in the Inner Gallery extending for a length of around 300 metres,” Sok An told about 300 people gathered for the visit.  

The visit was part of a social schedule yesterday for the International Co-ordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC) meeting being held in Siem Reap today.

A spate of restoration activity by donor countries in recent years has led to the uncovering of many buried artifacts and greater understanding of the Khmer empire.

At the substantive meeting today, a key issue will be flood management and the condition of monuments at the Angkor park.

During the floods in September, the temple complex was submerged by 1.5 metres of water. A Japanese tourist died and nearly 200 tourists had to be evacuated by helicopter.