Tourism: Launch of the China-Cambodia Cultural Corridor

The China-Cambodia Cultural Corridor represents a significant new initiative in the development of regional tourism. The launch of the Corridor took place on Tuesday at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in northwest Cambodia.

At the event, inheritors and artists from China and Cambodia showcased their skills in intangible cultural heritage arts and flash mobs, attracting a large number of participants and audiences

The theme of the cultural corridor, "World Heritage Face to Face, Civilization Mutual Learning Hand in Hand," is designed to further promote the cultural diversity and heritage of the two countries in anticipation of the 2024 China-Cambodia people-to-people exchange year.

The launch ceremony was held at the airport's international passenger departure terminal, where approximately 100 high-quality images of China, Cambodia and other Lancang-Mekong countries were displayed. Additionally, visitors can view a display focusing on three themes: "embroidery," "carving," and "color." This showcase highlights the intangible cultural heritage of southwest China's Yunnan province and Cambodia.

At the event, the World Heritage Tour Plan, with the theme of "See 10 World Heritage Sites in 10 Days", was also launched.

Chhean Leang, Secretary of State at Cambodia's Ministry of Information, stated that the corridor represents a significant advancement in people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"This cultural corridor will direct tourists from around the globe to the distinctive and captivating cultural heritage and landscapes of Cambodia and China, as well as other Lancang-Mekong countries, through the showcase of world heritage sites and intangible cultural heritage, among other features," he stated.

In his remarks on the launch of the plan, Mr. Leang expressed confidence that these tourist routes will connect world heritage sites in six Lancang-Mekong countries, providing a significant boost to regional tourism development.

"We extend a warm welcome to tourists from all over the world to experience the charm of Cambodia," he said.

Ngov Sengkak, deputy governor of Siem Reap province, stated that the corridor aligns with the "Visit Siem Reap 2024" campaign and is confident that it will positively contribute to the development of tourism in Siem Reap province.

"This cultural corridor serves as a tangible symbol of the strong and enduring friendship between Cambodia and China, acting as a conduit for mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations," he stated.

The cultural corridor will provide tourists with a deeper understanding of the ancient cultural heritage of Cambodia and China. "I am confident that this will lead to an increase in the number of tourists to Siem Reap province," Sengkak added.

Mr. Wang Jianghong, Deputy Head of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, stated that the corridor was inaugurated following the launch of the China (Yunnan)-Cambodia Cultural Series on "Visiting Yunnan and Angkor" Heritage Sites in June. This series was created to promote historical travel and cultural heritage in both Yunnan and Cambodia.

"It is our hope that this event will facilitate collaboration between Yunnan and Cambodia in the fields of culture and tourism, encourage the development of innovative tourism products and services, and establish a new model for cross-border tourism cooperation," she said.

Xinhua