Phnom Penh, May 16, 2019 –His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, arrived home this afternoon after spending three days in Beijing, China to attend the First Conference on Dialogue among Asian Civilisations.
The Cambodian monarch was welcomed upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport by Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly; Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, President of the Senate, and Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen as well as many other senior officials and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Wang Wentian.
In his keynote address at the First Conference on Dialogue among Asian Civilisations on May 15, His Majesty the King highly appreciated H.E. Xi Jinping’s initiative to hold this conference aiming at promoting dialogue among various Asian civilisations, boosting regional understanding and enhancing regional cooperation.
This forum will contribute greatly and effectively to boosting good relations between Asian nations at the present day, deepening mutual understanding, and improving cooperation with peace, fraternity and love, underlined the Cambodian monarch.
Cambodia is among the countries in Asia that have so far been influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism in our early history and had been a place of meeting between Indian diplomats and Chinese diplomats and traders for many centuries ago. This relationship has contributed tremendously to the progress of the Khmer culture and we has formed the world’s famous Angkor civilisation, he stressed.
Besides, His Majesty the King noted that the world is now in the process of unprecedented scientific and material advances. But with this progress, he added, moral and ethical norms in society are also downplayed. The downgrade of moral and social virtue leads to serious harm to human dignity and sustainability of culture and future of society.
In this context, the monarch said, the important thing is to strengthen the spirit of joint responsibility for the future of Asia and mankind through mutual and honest respect, mutual understanding, mental support and idea and knowledge exchange, which will increase mutual confidence and foster cooperation with honesty and unity for the development of Asia.
According to Chinese News Agency Xinhua, the Conference on Dialogue among Asian Civilisations was initiated by Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping in 2015, when addressing the opening of the Boao Forum. He proposed a conference to be held to promote dialogue among various Asian civilisations, boost regional understanding and enhance cooperation.
This first conference themed “exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilisations and a community with a shared future”, attracted delegates from different countries to exchange their views on multiple platforms. The conference has an opening ceremony and six parallel forums, along with Asian cultural carnival, Asian civilisation week and an Asian food festival.
Leaders from Asia and elsewhere, directors from relevant international organisations and some delegates from cultural and humanity sectors are also present at the conference which started on May 15.
During his stay in Beijing, His Majesty the King also granted separate royal audiences to Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping, and Chinese Vice President H.E. Wang Qishan, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to boost the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a new level.
By Khan Sophirom
