AKP Phnom Penh, December 12, 2018 -- 

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Bin Chhin announced in a meeting here late Tuesday that Cambodia will host the official launch of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) in mid-January next year. 

“This regional initiative came after the International Conference of Asian Political Parties agreed to set up the cultural mechanism along with support from UNESCO,” said Mr. Ek Tha, a spokesperson of the Office of the Council of Ministers, on Wednesday. 

The Kingdom of Cambodia has been elected from the 350 ICAPP members to be the host thanks to its remarkable success, with assistance of UNESCO, in protecting, restoring, and preserving its ancient temples, many of which are now listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. 

In April 2018, Mr. Jose de Venecia, Jr.—Founding Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the ICAPP—wrote a request to PM Hun Sen to be the honorary founding chairman of the ACC. H.E. Mrs. Khuon Sudary will be the chairperson of the new Council. 

“This forthcoming important cultural event shows that Cambodia has been trusted by the international community as a leader in the field of cultural heritage conservation and the proposed ACC will play a vital role in contributing to protecting and preserving other cultural sites in Asia,” said Mr. Ek Tha, after the meeting chaired by Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, H.E. Mrs. Phoeurng Sackona. 

In attendance at this meeting were officials appointed to work for the preparations of the event that will be held from Jan. 15 to 16, 2019 in Siem Reap province, home to Angkor temples. 

Cambodia’s leaders and regional dignities from 14 other countries in Asia will gather in Siem Rap for the launching ceremony on Jan. 15 which will include a visit to Angkor followed by prestigious artist performances from the invited countries at the Angkor complex listed as a World Heritage Site since 1992. 

To date, three Cambodian cultural sites and five other Cambodian cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage have been inscribed on the World Heritage List. 

The invited countries including Nepal, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Burma, Pakistan, Turkey, and India. 

By AKP