PHNOM
PENH, Feb. 16, 2012 (PRU) – Cambodian and Japanese artists began on
Thursday to rock the stage at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center
(CJCC); it is more than just a cultural event but also shows a stronger
bilateral relations as both countries are going to celebrate the 60th
anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
This
four-day Festival features many more events, such as a Japanese pop
concert, Karate and Kendo demonstrations, Japanese cinema events, a
Japanese speech contest, a flower arranging class and many other
fascinating programs.
H.E.
Mr. Masafumi KUROKI, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia,
said that this Thursday night performance by AUN and HIDE, the Japanese
musical group, played with traditional Japanese musical instruments and a
unique collaboration with Cambodian musicians.
The
premier of a new Japanese movie entitled “We can’t change the world,
but we want to build a school in Cambodia” is to be screened on Friday.
The movie, which features a famous Japanese actor, Mr. Osamu MUKAI, who is a Goodwill Ambassador between Japan and Cambodia.
“This
hall is certainly a symbol of cultural and intellectual exchanges
between the two countries,” said His Excellency Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of
Ministers.
Both Asian countries are rich in traditional cultures and heritage that have been well recognized.
“We
are very much interested in each others' culture. I believe that
culture is the cause of identity,” said the Deputy Prime Minister at the
CJCC.
His
Excellency Dr. Sok An recalled that the Japanese word “KIZUNA”, which
means friendship, is deepening in Cambodia’s heart and mind given the
first bridge crossing over the Mekong River in Kompong Cham is called
“Kizuna bridge”.
Even
the cultural hall, where the artists and exhibition took place, is
named “Angkor –Kizuna Hall”, said the Deputy Prime Minister.
H. E. Mr. Masafumi said that Of course, this “Kizuna” between our two nations was not built in one day.
“We
owe it to a lot of efforts by the people of the past and the present in
both countries at different levels from the political level to the
grass-roots level and I want to express my deep gratitude to all those
people for their contribution,” said His Excellency Ambassador.
His
Excellency Dr. Sok An said that to understand the culture of a country
in all its diversity is to understand its identity. Therefore, for the
Cambodians to learn the culture of Japan, it is to understand the people
of Japan and the other way around,
The
cultural event takes place on the same day that Japan provided a
package of demining equipments to the Royal Government of Cambodia worth
over $16 million to further support CMAC land mine clearance in
Cambodia.
Through
the assistances for the past five times in this sector, which worth
about 50 millions USD, almost half of equipment used by CMAC was
provided by Japan’s grant aid, said H.E KUROKI.
At
the Hand-Over Ceremony of Demining Equipments to the Cambodian Mine
Action Center (CMAC) in Siem Reap, H.E. KUROKI said that “clearing
landmines and UXOs are critically important for the people of Cambodia
both from the viewpoints of human security and socio-economic
development.”
“Not
only do their existences pose a significant threat to the lives of the
people in affected areas but also they hinder the productive use of land
for agriculture and may deter foreign direct investments,’ said H.E
Ambassador.