On August 28, the gala on the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia as well as the launching ceremony of a series of activities themed on the “Beautiful China, Colorful Yunnan” was held in Phnom Kohpich Theatre. Attendants included Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian and his wife, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Cabinet Office of Cambodia Vongsey Vissoth and his wife, Minister of Culture and Arts of Cambodia Phoeurng Sackona, and Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee Zhai Yulong.
Nearly 100 artists from China and Cambodia presented unique singing and dancing and intangible cultural heritage display shows for the audience, which is the largest in Cambodia performed by two countries in recent years. The performance is divided into three chapters: Drinking from the Same Stream, Building a Family Together and Sharing the Way Forward. Artists from Performing Arts Group in Yunnan, China and Cambodia Royal University of Arts and other organizations presented the Cambodian Fairy Dance, Peacock Dance and Fishing Dance to the audience, excerpts from Chinese Peking Opera Ode to Pear Blossoms, Hulusi solo Deep in the Bamboo Forest, and Chinese dance Blessing, Haicai Tune, Flower Waist Quick Tune and other programs. The song Golden Promise sung by Chinese and Cambodian singers to admire Sino-Cambodian friendship in the finale pushed the party to a climax.
The whole performance showed the concept of mutual respect, mutual support, equality and mutual learning, win-win cooperation, openness and inclusiveness since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, which is the theme of building a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe and is stronger than gold.
Wang Wentian said that with a long history, China-Cambodia relations were close and different from others, and this year marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia. Over the past 65 years, China and Cambodia have always helped each other and shared weal and woe, and the relations between the two countries have withstood the test of international changes and become more unbreakable. Our relations have become a model for working together to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. Under the leadership of the new Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia will embark on a new journey of prosperity and strength, and China-Cambodia relations will usher in new and greater stage, which will further benefit the two countries and peoples, and make new contributions to peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large.
Vongsey Vissoth said that Cambodia and China are loyal brothers, and thanked China for its long-term firm support for Cambodia to follow a development path in line with its national conditions and safeguard its national interests and national dignity. It is believed that under the leadership of the new Prime Minister Hun Manet, the relations between the two countries will be even closer and the friendship between the two peoples will be deeper.
This series of cultural exchange activities includes Yunnan-Cambodia Cultural Tourism Promotion Conference, Chinese Cultural Experience Day, Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation and Exchange Conference, and Siem Reap Gala.
Nearly 3,000 people from the Cambodian Royal Family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture and Arts, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Tourism, the Cabinet Office, as well as the diplomatic missions of various countries, the General Council of Cambodia and China, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and local universities watched the performance.