SIEM REAP, Apr 24 (NNN-AKP) – China’s Shaolin Kung Fu martial artistes and Cambodian Bokator martial artistes, today jointly performed “When Shaolin Meets Bokator,” at the famed Angkor Archaeological Park, attracting crowds of spectators.
Held at the northern part of Bayon Temple, in the complex of the Angkor Archaeological Park, in Siem Reap province, the event was part of joint activities organised to celebrate the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cambodian Tourism Minister, Sok Soken, said, the event was designed to promote tourism and cultural exchanges between Cambodia and China.
“The event is essential to help enhance the bonds of friendship between the two countries and peoples,” he said. “We believe that, the event will help attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia and promote Cambodia’s potential tourist destinations to China.”
Soken said, the country recorded 5.4 million international tourists, including some 540,000 Chinese tourists, last year.
In the first quarter of this year, Cambodia received roughly 1.5 million international tourists, up 22 percent, he said, adding that, the number of Chinese holidaymakers to Cambodia during the Jan-Mar period this year was 190,000, up 43 percent.
“In this sense, the future of Cambodia’s tourism is inseparable from the inflows of Chinese tourists and investors,” Soken said.
The minister said, the growth of Chinese tourists has provided an important opportunity for Cambodia, because it has not only boosted the development of the tourism sector, but also created investment opportunities for other sectors.
“Cambodia and many countries around the world have considered China as a strategic partner and the biggest source of market for their economic growth and development,” he said.
The one-day event, which included a Cambodia-China cultural tourism exhibition, was organised by Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with China’s Henan Province and Cambodia’s Siem Reap Province.– NNN-AKP
