The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has organised a ceremony of tree planting and cycling to cheer Siem Reap City as ASEAN cultural city.

The ceremony took place yesterday at Angkor resort, Siem Reap province with the participation of H.E. Sum Map, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Ms. You Sophea, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap province as well as representatives of embassies to Cambodia.

H.E. Hang Pov, Director General of APSARA National Authority, said Cambodia's Siem Reap city has been selected as ASEAN cultural city for 2021-2022.

The selection of Siem Reap city as ASEAN cultural city is because the city is the former capital of the Khmer empire rich in intangible and tangible cultural heritage, and a world-renowned natural cultural tourism destination, continued the director general.

Since 2008, the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Cultural and Arts (AMCA) have agreed that each country that is the rotating Chair of AMCA Meeting can select its city to request for ASEAN cultural city.

The setting of ASEAN cultural city intends to show ASEAN identity and the cultural diversity of each member country.

The mandate of Chair of AMCA Meeting is two years and the Chair will invite representatives from ASEAN countries to seek understanding on its culture to share experience and strengthen cultural collaboration among the ASEAN Member States.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press