Siem Reap (FN), Jan. 14 - Ek Tha, spokesman for the Office of the Council of Ministers and Head of Media Commision of Asian Cultural Council (ACC), said that the first ACC meeting indicated a great success of the Cambodian diplomacy on the international stage and promoted Cambodia's tourism destinations to the rest of the world, speaking to the press on Monday.

"In terms of diplomacy, Cambodia has gained international recognition […] by hosting ACC, we can see that the international communities fully support the Royal Government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen,” said Ek Tha.

“[...] the international community also look up at Cambodia as a model for maintaining cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible. Through media, the world can see Cambodia as the paradise of tourism, culture, nature and history,” he added.

No one can deny that when more tourists come, so do investors, the spokesman underlined.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Honorary Founding Chairperson of ACC, will preside over the official launching of the Asian Cultural Council on 15 January, attended by around 300 people comprising regional VVIPs, cultural ministers, and other dignitaries from ICAPP members. Many accomplished artists from more than 10 countries will perform on the stage to welcome the ACC bureau in Cambodia.

The meeting is held in Siem Reap, at Sokha Siem Reap Resort & Convention Center, attended by national and international guests from 26 countries across Asia.

The Premier will also host a gala dinner at the Elephant Terrace, Angkor, which will be attended by more than 800 guests from national and international executive and legislative bodies. Attendees will include guests who are attending the 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-27) on “Strengthening Parliamentary Partnership for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development”, which is taking place from the 13th – 18th January 2019, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A range of 270 artists from nine countries, including 165 Cambodian artists, will perform at the gala dinner to celebrate the launch of the ACC in Cambodia.

The organizers of the ACC event will also arrange tours for guests who wish to visit the UN-listed Angkor World Heritage Park on the 16th January 2019.

H.E. Kem Reath Viseth, Secretary of State of the Office of the Council of Ministers, will read the Royal Message at the beginning of the meeting on the morning of 15th January 2019.

ACC’s chairwoman, Her Excellency Khuon Sudary, the Second Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly of Cambodia, will then deliver her remarks, followed by speeches from ICAPP and UNESCO representatives.

National and international panelists will attend the four round table discussions including topics such as; the Emerging Multi-Conceptual World and Asian Identity, Connecting Culture and Sustainable Development, Harnessing Technology for Civilization Connectivity, and Building a Community for Common Destiny in Asia.

The ACC meeting will issue a Siem Reap Declaration concerning its work after the discussions which will be read by H.E. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Vice-Chairman and Special Rapporteur of the ICAPP (Pakistan). This will be followed by closing remarks from the Deputy Prime Minister Bin Chhin, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Organizing the Official Launching of ACC (Cambodia).

The ACC was an initiative of Cambodia, China, Nepal, and Russia and the commendable partnership agreement is historic for ICAPP and Asian political parties. Recognized by UNESCO as its cooperation partner through ICAPP, ACC comprises of 352 members, including parties in power and the opposition from 52 countries in Asia.

Excellency Suos Yara, Member of Cambodian National Assembly and ACC Director-General, stressed at the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between UNESCO and ICAPP that: “All the ACC members will use culture more extensively as a mean to live together and build together our future in peace and prosperity.”

Yara also noted “One of the main objectives of the Asian Cultural Council is the promotion of culture for the enhancement and enrichment of the quality of life, prosperity, and interchange among peoples for greater mutual understanding among countries.”

The ACC’s objectives are to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchanges among member countries, to promote unity within diversity, to promote cultural assets as sources of sustainable development and international cooperation, and to connect civilizations and build a harmonious Asia.

ACC expects to adopt a Siem Reap Declaration after the four roundtable discussions during the event.

Cambodia was admitted as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1951. The Kingdom of Wonder has gained increasing international support in protecting, preserving, and managing its cultural heritage sites alongside sustainable development after the World Heritage Committee (WHC/UNESCO) listed the Angkor Archaeological Park, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries, as a world heritage site in 1992.
=FRESH NEWS