China tourism and culture week kicks off in Cambodia

The 2019 China Tourism and Culture Week was inaugurated in Phnum Penh, the capital city of Cambodia on June 26.

Over 200 guests from both countries, including the ones from Yunnan province specifically, attended the launch ceremony at the Chinese Culture Center in Phnum Penh. 

Consisting of photography and calligraphy exhibitions as well as a series of youth gatherings, it is an essential part of the China-Cambodia Culture and Tourism Year of 2019.

The event will last until the end of July. 

More than 60 photos themed “Beautiful China” were exhibited at the venue, drawing particular attention of the Cambodian audiences.

The calligraphy demonstration delivered by Zhao Haoru, the vice chairman of Yunnan Calligraphers Association, also impressed the attendees. 

“The China-Cambodia diplomatic ties were established in the year of 1958, and our relationship has always been based on the principles of equality and mutual respect ever since, in spite of cultural and social differences in between," said San Vathana, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia.

“I totally agree with Xi’s words during the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilization that diversity spurs interaction among civilization, which in turn promotes mutual learning and their further development,” stressed Chea Munyrith, head of the Khmer-Chinese Friendship Association. 

“We shall highlight the value of harmonious coexistence, rather than confrontation among different countries, nations and civilizations,” he added. 

Many young participants had already studied and traveled around in China.

“I learned a lot about the history and culture of China when I studied in Xi’an, and it is the city that made me fall in love with China,” Said Chen Minghui (Chinese name), a student from Asia Europe University, Cambodia.

“Both China and Cambodia are homes of great ancient civilizations, and they have made significant contributions to the progress of human society,” said Quan Yangang, the director of Chinese Culture Center in Phnum Penh.

“We would like to build up a bridge of friendship between China and Cambodia, through which more cultural activities could be carried out and people from the two countries could also know each other better.” 

Reporting by Yu Jiangning (Yunnan Daily), trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong