Phnom Penh: Cambodia and China held the official closing ceremony of the campaign on people-to-people exchange year 2024 in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China on Feb. 24. The event was graced by H.E. Sok Chanda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, and H.E. Wang Xu Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of China.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, other key figures included H.E. Huot Hak, Cambodian Minister of Tourism; H.E. Wang Kai, Governor of Henan province; H.E. Wang Zhanying, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Propaganda Department, as well as senior leaders and delegations from relevant ministries and institutions of both countries, and over 1,500 Chinese citizens participated as spectators. The event featured Cambodia-China joint cultural performances, including Shaolin and Bokator Martial Arts, culture and tourism promotion events and other sideline activities.
The closing ceremony contributed to promoting bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and China on tourism, said H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism. ‘Despite the end of the campaign, Cambodia and China will continue to further promote the culture, tradition and tourism potential between the two countries, which will not only contribute to strengthening the friendly ties and good cooperation in tourism and trade between Cambodia and China, but also demonstrate the priority attention to the Chinese market source for Cambodian tourism,’ he said.
The event showcased the nation’s rich arts, culture, and tourism potential more broadly to the international market, particularly to the Chinese market. It provided an opportunity to connect and expand people-to-people connections, trade, relations, and reinforce partnership and cooperation, in contribution to build ‘Cambodia-China Community of Share Future’ and further support the ongoing Cambodia-China Diamond Cooperation.
Cambodia has seen a 55 percent increase in the number of Chinese tourists in 2024, according to a report from the Ministry of Tourism. A total of 848,952 Chinese visitors travelled to the Kingdom last year, up 55 percent from 547,798 in the year before, the report said.