Off the wire
• New Zealand businesses optimistic with low inflation, capacity pressures  • Across China: Migrant worker's hard choice to donate organs  • Interview: Timo Boll's advice for Chinese football  • Interview: Japanese gov't manipulates documents on disputed islands with China: historian  • U.S. gains much from its ties with China: former U.S. official  • Hong Kong's chief executive says confident in constitutional reform proposal  • Hong Kong stocks close lower by midday  • Chinese court opens appeal trial for serial killer  • 13 students hurt in Houston school bus collision  • Tokyo shares end mixed by break  
You are here: 　 Home

Cambodian PM, opposition leader jointly open Angkor Sankranta festival for Khmer New Year celebrations

Xinhua, April 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the Angkor Sankranta festival, which is held to celebrate Khmer New Year from April 14-16.

The opening ceremony, kicked off at the complex of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor Archeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province, was live broadcast on all local television channels. Foreign diplomats, including Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo, were also invited for the festival.

It was the first time ever that the two leaders jointly opened such a cultural event.

"I'm very happy today to see both the parties (leaders) inside and outside the government join the festival," Hun Sen said during the opening ceremony. "This shows the gesture of national unity and unification."

The prime minister said the culture of dialogue between his ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) will be further enhanced to ensure national peace, stability and development.

"Today, I'd like to send this message to the compatriots, regardless of which political party you voted for, you are all Cambodians, you have to stay united for national peace and development," he said.

Hun Sen said the Angkor Sankranta festival, the largest annual cultural event in Siem Reap province, is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to the Angkor Archeological Park.

"It is the largest festival that brings intangible culture to show on the land of the tangible cultural site," he said. "It also provides an opportunity for tourists to explore the glory and richness of Cambodian culture, civilization, custom, tradition, and religion."

After his speech, Hun Sen, along with CNRP president Sam Rainsy, visited a cultural exhibition, which showcases traditional style houses, materials and equipment used in daily lives of rural peoples.

The 3-day Angkor Sankranta festival is being organized by the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, which is led by Hun Sen's youngest son Hun Many.

A variety of events, including traditional games, sports, dancing, singing, martial arts, trade exhibition, food show, and modern concert, has been held at the festival. Endi