Sunday, June 16, 2013

All eyes on 37th session of World Heritage Committee in Cambodia


English.news.cn   2013-06-15 15:17:08            
by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) will begin on Sunday at Cambodian capital' s Peace Palace with the participation of around 1,300 delegates from more than 120 countries, said a media statement released by host Cambodia.
Cambodia is the fourth Asian countries, which was elected as host country of the 37th WHC session from June 16 to 27, the statement said Wednesday.
The session will be opened at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh in the evening of June 16 by Prime Minister Hun Sen and closed in Siem Reap Cultural City on June 27 by Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An.
Besides the local media, some 350 foreign journalists have registered to cover the 12-day event.
Phay Siphan, Spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers, said it is a pride for Cambodia to host such a significant meeting and it would be an opportunity to show the world about the richness of Cambodia's culture and civilization.
"Cambodia has nearly 1,000 ancient temples and is the country with the oldest culture in Southeast Asia," he told Xinhua on Saturday. "The session will be the chance to tell the world that Cambodia is rich in culture and civilization and is putting its efforts to protect and conserve those ancient temples for tourists and next generations."
According to the statement, the upcoming session would identify, on the basis of nominations dossiers submitted by States Parties, cultural and natural properties of Outstanding Universal Value which are to be listed.
It would also review the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and decide which properties need to be placed in the World Heritage List in Danger or to be removed from the World Heritage List.
In addition, it would examine international assistance requests managed by the World Heritage Fund.
The World Heritage Committee, comprised of members from 21 countries, will examine the situation of the world's most important cultural and natural sites and decide whether more should be added to the World Heritage List.
Up to 2012, the World Heritage List included 962 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage, which the World Heritage Committee considered as having outstanding universal value, the statement said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An, who is the chairman of the 37th WHC session, said about 36 nominated properties around the globe would be examined during the forthcoming session. However, it remained unknown how many of them would succeed in being inscribed on that prestigious list.
Among the natural properties are Xinjiang Tianshan of China, Great Himalayan National Park of India, Mount Etna of Italy, Mount Kenya-Lewa Wildlife Conservancy of Kenya, El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve of Mexico, Namib Sand Sea of Namibia, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary of the Philippines, Tajik National Park of Tajikistan, and Cat Tien National Park of Viet Nam.
The candidates for cultural properties are comprised of 23 sites in the countries around the world.
In addition, there are four candidates for mixed natural and cultural properties presented by Canada, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho and Russia.
Sok An said that through the forthcoming meeting, the World Heritage community would have the opportunity to know and understand the richness of Cambodian heritage and Cambodia's efforts for its protection and safeguarding in the context of sustainable development.
"Cambodia is very proud to have inherited cultural and natural wonders from our ancestors, and it is our responsibility to preserve this legacy for future generations," he said.
He said during the upcoming session, Cambodia would not submit a nomination dossier for any of its heritage sites for consideration although it has already completed documents for nominating Sambor Prei Kuk temple in Kampong Thom province for inscription on the World Heritage List.
"We decided to hold back our nomination as a gesture toward improving the culture of impartiality within this international organization," he said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for the National Police, said that security has been deployed at airport, along main roads, hotels and meeting venues in order to ensure security and public order during the meeting.
"We arranged more than 10,000 security forces to safeguard this important event," he told Xinhua over telephone on Saturday.
Editor: Yang Yi

World Heritage Committee to examine 31 new sites for World Heritage List


PHNOM PENH, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) would kick off on Sunday evening here and last until June 27 in order to consider inscribing 31 new sites onto the UNESCO's World Heritage list, spokesmen said Sunday.
"Originally, 32 new sites were expected to be examined for inscribing on the list, but the committee had refused to recognize Cat Tien National Park of Vietnam as a world natural heritage site due to its failure to meet the organization's requirements," Roni Amelan, UNESCO spokesman, said in a press briefing on Sunday.
He estimated that about 15 sites out of the 31 candidate sites would be inscribed on the World Heritage List during the forthcoming session.
According to the UNESCO's website, among the 31 sites, there are eight natural properties including Xinjiang Tianshan of China, Great Himalayan National Park of India, Mount Etna of Italy, Mount Kenya-Lewa Wildlife Conservancy of Kenya, El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve of Mexico, Namib Sand Sea of Namibia, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary of the Philippines, and Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) of Tajikistan.
In addition, there are four mixed natural and cultural properties including Pimachiowin Aki of Canada, Archipel des Bijag s -- Motom Moranghajogo of Guinea Bissau, Sehlabathebe National Park of Lesotho, and an extension of "uKhahlamba/Drakensberg Park" of South Africa, and other 19 cultural properties.
Besides, the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee would review the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and decide which properties need to be placed in the World Heritage List in Danger or to be removed from the World Heritage List.
It would examine international assistance requests managed by the World Heritage Fund.
Dim Sovannarom, spokesman for the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, said in the press briefing that the event would be held at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Sunday evening by Prime Minister Hun Sen with the participation of around 1,300 delegates from more than 120 countries.
He said at the opening ceremony, there would be art performance before a series of keynote remarks by UNESCO leaders and Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Cambodia is the fourth Asian countries, which was elected as host country of the 37th WHC session.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An, who is the Chairman of the 37th WHC session, said Cambodia was very proud to host such international meeting.
"Through this meeting, the World Heritage community would have the opportunity to know and understand the richness of Cambodian heritage and Cambodia's efforts for its protection and safeguarding in the context of sustainable development," he said.

World Heritage Committee holds session to consider listing new heritage sites


English.news.cn   2013-06-16 22:20:24            
Dim Sovannarom (C), spokesman for the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, speaks in a press briefing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 16, 2013. The 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) would kick off on Sunday evening here and last until June 27 in order to consider inscribing 31 new sites onto the UNESCO's World Heritage list, spokesmen said Sunday. (Xinhua/Sovannara)
Dim Sovannarom (C), spokesman for the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, speaks in a press briefing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 16, 2013. The 37th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) would kick off on Sunday evening here and last until June 27 in order to consider inscribing 31 new sites onto the UNESCO's World Heritage list, spokesmen said Sunday. (Xinhua/Sovannara)
PHNOM PENH, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The 37th session of the World Heritage Committee kicked off at the Peace Palace in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Sunday evening aiming to consider the inscription of new sites onto the UNESCO's World Heritage list.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova called for solidarity and political will in order to protect cultural heritage damaged by armed conflict.
"We need the same leadership today to protect cultural heritage under attack in the region and across the globe in Mali, Syria, Central African Republic and elsewhere," she told some 1, 300 delegates from more than 120 countries.
During the session which will last until June 27, the World Heritage Committee comprised of members from 21 countries would consider inscribing 31 new sites onto the UNESCO's World Heritage list, UNESCO spokesman Roni Amelan said in a press briefing on Sunday.
Among the 31 sites are two Chinese sites: natural Xinjiang Tianshan and cultural landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, according to the UNESCO's website.
Other candidate sites nominated for the World Heritage list are Great Himalayan National Park of India, Mount Etna of Italy, Mount Kenya-Lewa Wildlife Conservancy of Kenya, El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve of Mexico, Namib Sand Sea of Namibia, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary of the Philippines, and Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) of Tajikistan.
Roni Amelan estimated that about 15 sites out of the 31 candidate sites would be inscribed on the World Heritage List during the session.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government and people of Cambodia were most honored to host this important meeting for the first time.
The premier said the World Heritage Committee was becoming, over the years, a real and strong body of global governance for the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity.
"The World Heritage Committee is therefore a special forum for dialogue to promote cooperation on culture and civilization shedding lights on human hope," he said. "Moreover, this session represents not only an important milestone in the history of the Committee, but it also expresses the triumph of the long aspiration of many for equal dignity of cultures and civilization."
The 37th session will also review the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and decide which properties need to be placed in the World Heritage List in Danger or to be removed from the World Heritage List.
Up to 2012, the World Heritage List has included 962 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage, which the World Heritage Committee considered as having outstanding universal value, the UNESCO said.
Cambodia became a UNESCO member in 1951, and several tangible and intangible cultural heritages had been listed as world heritages such as Angkor Archeological Park in 1992, Royal Ballet in 2003, Sbek Thom or Khmer Shadow Theater in 2005, and Preah Vihear temple in 2008.
According to the figures of the ministry of culture and fine arts, the country has 769 ancient temples, 105 ancient bridges, 1, 769 ancient pagodas, and 13 archeological excavation stations, 15 museums and tens of thousands of ancient objects.
Editor: Tang Danlu

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Cambodia's largest port sees 14 pct rise in cargo shipment in 5 months


English.news.cn   2013-06-12 17:50:38            
PHNOM PENH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, the kingdom's largest shipping facility, has seen a 14 percent increase in cargo shipment in the first five months of this year thanks to growing business activities, a port senior official said Wednesday.
During January-May period this year, the state-owned port had received 112,200 twenty-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs (standard- sized containers), up 14 percent from 98,500 TEUs in the same period last year, according to the port's statistics.
During the period, 419 ships had entered and left the port, up 5 percent compared with 400 ships in the same period last year.
"The growth is thanks to better economic situation in Cambodia and in the world," the port's director general Lou Kim Chhun said.
He said goods leaving Cambodia through the port were mostly garment and footwear products, and agricultural products, whilst cargo entering Cambodia via the port were consuming products, autos, construction materials, machinery, steel, steam coal, and petroleum.
The port was expected to list on Cambodian Security Exchange later this year, he said.
Editor: Hou Qiang

Hundreds donate blood in Cambodia to mark World Blood Donor Day


CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY
A Cambodian girl donates blood during the celebration of the tenth World Blood Donor Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 12, 2013. (Xinhua/Phearum)



English.news.cn   2013-06-12 12:36:39            
PHNOM PENH, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Cambodian citizens and dozens of foreigners working in Cambodia lined up to donate their blood on Wednesday during the celebrations of the 10th World Blood Donor Day.
Speaking at the event, Cambodian Minister of Heath Mam Bunheng expressed gratitude to all blood donors, saying that their donation was very valuable to save lives of the patients.
"I urge all of you to continue your donation," he said. " Blood transfusion will not harm your health; instead, your blood will save lives of people who are in need of blood."
Hok Kim Cheng, director of National Blood Transfusion Center, said the celebrations were to appeal to donors to donate blood in order to ensure the stability of supplying blood to hospitals and health centers throughout the nation.
He said last year, the center had received voluntary donations of 60,084 units of blood, up 28 percent from 46,690 units in a year earlier.
"More and more Cambodians are aware of the advantage of blood in saving lives," he said. "About 4.2 out of 1,000 people donate their blood last year, up from 4 out of 1,000 people in a year earlier."
He said all blood would be tested for four types of diseases, HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and malaria.
"The blood that contains any of these diseases will be destroyed," he said.
Dr. Pieter Van Maaren, representative of the World Health Organization to Cambodia, said a unit of blood could save up to three lives in low income countries including Cambodia.
"The event is very important to encourage people to donate blood and to thank donors for their blood donation," he said.
One of the blood donors is a Buddhist monk who has donated blood to the center for 31 times.
"I have donated blood in every three months, there is no any harm to my health," said Svay Sophea, a Buddhist monk at Botum Vatey pagoda in Phnom Penh. "This is the way I can do to save lives of people who are in need in blood."
Editor: Hou Qiang


Thai PM invites Cambodian counterpart for official visit


CAMBODIA-PHNOM PENH-THAILAND-VISIT
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) talks with visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 11, 2013. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra invited Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to make an official visit to Thailand in order to cement bilateral ties and cooperation, a Cambodian spokesman said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Sovannara)



English.news.cn   2013-06-11 23:52:07            
PHNOM PENH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra invited Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to make an official visit to Thailand in order to cement bilateral ties and cooperation, a Cambodian spokesman said Tuesday.
The invitation was extended to Hun Sen by visiting Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, said Eang Sophallet, personal spokesman for Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"Surapong Tovichakchaikul told Prime Minister Hun Sen that Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra invited him for an official visit to Thailand in an appropriate time," he told reporters after the meeting at the Peace Palace.
Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the exchange visit of the leaders of the two countries were very important to illustrate good relationship, cooperation, and mutual trust.
He added that the Government of Thailand was committed to maintaining good ties with Cambodia for mutual benefits.
Meanwhile, Hun Sen said he would arrange a proper time to visit Thailand.
Earlier in the day, Surapong Tovichakchaikul and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong co-chaired the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Border Area Development and Connectivity between the two countries.
Both sides agreed to increase cooperation in various sectors including trade, investment, tourism, energy, health, education, and anti-cross border crimes.
The Cambodian government of Hun Sen and the Thai government of Yingluck Shinawatra have been working hard to ameliorate the bilateral tie, which was murky during the rule of former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva due to deadly border clashes.
Border dispute between the two neighbors over the 4.6 square kilometers of land next to Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple remains unsolved.
The World Court is expected to issue a decision on who owns the disputed land around the temple later this year.
Editor: yan


2 looted Khmer ancient statues return home after 20-year display in U.S. museum

                                             (Photo Credit: Xinhua)

English.news.cn   2013-06-11 20:53:36            
by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The two 10th century stone statues of "Kneeling Attendants" arrived in Cambodia by air on Tuesday evening after nearly 20 years on public display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York.
At the Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodian and UNESCO officials and Buddhist monks held a welcome home ceremony.
"This is a historical event for Cambodia, and we are very excited to see the return of the statues," Chan Tany, secretary of state at the Council of Ministers, told Xinhua at the welcome home ceremony.
He said the statues were returned to Cambodia after a negotiation between Cambodian officials and the Met in April.
"We claim them based on legal aspect, evidence, cultural aspect and statues' history," he said.
Ros Banath, president of Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said that the two statues would be on display at the Peace Palace during the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee on June 16-27.
He said currently, Cambodia has been working to claim its artifacts, which were looted from Cambodia during war time in the 1970s, back from other museums and art collectors.
"One of the cases is the 10th century sandstone statue at Sotheby's auction in New York. The statue was looted from a temple in Cambodia. Now, we are suing the Sotheby's auction to claim the statue back," he told Xinhua.
Maxwell K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon, chairman of the department of Asian Art at the Met, said at the ceremony, the Met had great honor to have the two "Kneeling Attendants" on display at the museum for nearly two decades and was also pleased to return the two statues to their homeland, Cambodia.
Speaking in an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and cabinet Minister Sok An said that Cambodia has a strong commitment to claim back antiquities that were looted and exported illegally, mostly during the civil war era of the 1970s.
"The decision of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to return two stone statues is the latest good example of success," he said. "These two stone statues of Pandavas are part of entire ensemble that had been looted from Prasat Chen at Koh Ker temple in Preah Vihear province."
According to a press statement of Cambodian Council of Ministers, the two statues were illicitly removed from Prasat Chen at Koh Ker temple at the time of Cambodia's civil war in the 1970s and were donated to the Met between 1987 and 1992.
"The Met's decision to return the statues shows the high standard of professional ethics of the museum, and we appeal to all other museums and art collectors holding treasures of Khmer art to follow this example and return them to Cambodia," the statement said.
It said that the successful restitution of the two ancient statues was a result of the worldwide campaign for the protection of cultural heritage led by UNESCO, and the determination of Cambodian government to restore the cultural soul of Cambodia.
The Met announced to return the two statues to Cambodia on May 3 after it had placed the statues on display in the Galleries for South and Southeast Asian Art since 1994. In the statement, Director of the Metropolitan Thomas P. Campbell said the museum was not known the statutes' history at the time of the acquisition.
"In returning the statues, the museum is acting to strengthen the good relationship it has long maintained with scholarly institutions and colleagues in Cambodia and to foster and celebrate continued cooperation and dialogue between us," he said.
Editor: Yang Yi

Cambodia, Thailand to establish special economic zones in border area

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (R, front) shakes hands with his Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul (L, front) during a signing ceremony to promote agriculture sector at the first Meeting of the Joint Committee on Border Area Development and Connectivity, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 11, 2013. Cambodia and Thailand on Tuesday agreed to work together towards establishing two special economic zones in border areas in order to boost trade and investment and improve livelihoods of the peoples along the border of the two countries. (Xinhua/Sovannara)
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (R, front) shakes hands with his Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul (L, front) during a signing ceremony to promote agriculture sector at the first Meeting of the Joint Committee on Border Area Development and Connectivity, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 11, 2013. Cambodia and Thailand on Tuesday agreed to work together towards establishing two special economic zones in border areas in order to boost trade and investment and improve livelihoods of the peoples along the border of the two countries. (Xinhua/Sovannara)


English.news.cn   2013-06-11 16:02:38            
PHNOM PENH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand on Tuesday agreed to work together towards establishing two special economic zones in border areas in order to boost trade and investment and improve livelihoods of the peoples along the border of the two countries.
"We agreed to set up special economic zones - one is in Banteay Meanchey province bordering Thailand's Sa Kaeo province, and the other is in Koh Kong province bordering Thailand's eastern Trat province," Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong said at a join press briefing after the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Border Area Development and Connectivity between Cambodia and Thailand.
"The special economic zones will be very important to strengthen and expand economic and trade relations between the two neighbors," he said.
Both sides also agreed to push for the construction of a 1,800 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Koh Kong province.
"Moreover, we agreed to teach Thai and Khmer languages to peoples along the border in order to enable Thais speak Khmer and Khmers speak Thai, so they will be able to work in the special economic zones and the power plant in the future," he said.
Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said both sides tasked a joint working group to discuss details towards the establishment of the two special economic zones.
Both sides also agreed to develop roads and railways and to set up 4 new international checkpoints in four provinces along the border.
In addition, they agreed to increase cooperation in tourism, health, and anti-cross border crimes.
"With our concerted endeavor, I believe that we will be able to turn our border as a border of peace, friendship and prosperity," Surapong Tovichakchaikul in the joint press briefing. "The livelihoods of our two peoples along the border will be better."
At the end of the meeting, the two top diplomats signed a memorandum of understanding on contract farming.
"The deal is very important for Cambodian people along the border. It will encourage Cambodian farmers to produce more agricultural products for Thai markets," Hor Namhong said.
The first meeting was held under the initiative by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to boost bilateral relations and cooperation.
It was also attended by the two countries' ministers of agriculture, defense, transport, commerce and health, as well as governors of provinces along the border of the two countries.
The Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Thai government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have been working hard to ameliorate the bilateral tie, which was murky during the rule of former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva due to deadly border clashes.
Border dispute between the two neighbors over the 4.6 square kilometers of land next to Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple remains unsolved.
The World Court is expected to issue a decision on who owns the disputed land around the temple later this year.

Editor: Yang Yi