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The project has been collaborating with the International Coordination Committee (ICC) for
Preah Vihear Temple, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee.
The ICC is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the inclusion of the temple of Preah Vihear temple in the official roster of World Heritage Sites. It was listed on July 7, 2008.
More than 2,000 people joined in the celebration at Preah Vihear temple on Friday, including Cambodian government officials, foreign ambassadors, officials from the ICC and citizens.
Chinese experts are arriving soon to contribute to the restoration of the temple in the near future.
Minister of Culture Phoeurng Sackona said that at the time when Preah Vihear temple was listed by UNESCO, the temple site was threatened with destruction caused by a border conflict with Thailand.
At that time also, some temple buildings were collapsing and the surrounding area was contaminated with land mines. So, conservation work was difficult and Cambodia needed international support to move forward, she added.
Sackona said that ever since the Preah Vihear temple was listed as a heritage site by UNESCO, it has been under restoration. The ICC has supported National Authority for Preah Vihear over the last 15 years.
The minister added that Chinese archaeological experts will come soon to join with restoration work at Preah Vihear after signing an agreement on cooperation. The Chinese are also members of the ICC for Preah Vihear.
Sackona said that July 7 is a momentous day for all Cambodian people, and everyone is proud of the world heritage status of Preah Vihear. Sackona congratulated everyone involved with the project to preserve Preah Vihear on its 15th anniversary.
The minister has been urging people to remember the efforts of the government and Prime Minister Hun Sen as well as the hard work of late deputy prime minister Sok An to get the temple listed by UNESCO.
National Authority for Preah Vihear director-general Kong Puthika said that at the time Preah Vihear temple was declared a world heritage site in 2008, there was no infrastructure and conservation of the temple faced many problems.
“But after 2008, the Cambodian government has developed the infrastructure and focused on temple conservation to attract tourists,” Puthika said. “Until now, the government has transformed Preah Vihear into one of Cambodia’s top tourist destinations.”
Puthika added that the ICC for Preah Vihear includes China and India as co-chairs. Belgium, France, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and US are also founding members.
“We anticipate that the Chinese team will help restore Gopura 1, 2 and 3 of Preah Vihear temple,” said Puthika.
He noted that Preah Vihear temple area has been under conservation work for some time. Authorities have planted thousands of trees.
Preah Vihear provincial governor, Kim Rithy, said that Preah Vihear temple is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cambodia, attracting thousand of tourists each year.
Rithy added that authorities have done their best to protect Preah Vihear temple, which has enjoyed good security for several years after it was recognised by UNESCO.
