Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre (CJCC), Phnom Penh,
20 February 2014
- Your Excellency Mr. Yuji Kumamaru, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia;
- Excellencies, Distinguished National and International Guests;
- Ladies and Gentlemen;
- Beloved Students!
My wife and I
have the great pleasure to be with you this evening at the opening
ceremony of Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2014. I still recall that, in
the last two consecutive years, I participated in the openings of this
Festival, and this year, just some five months after the establishment
of the Royal Government for the fifth mandate, under the wise leadership
of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the
Kingdom of Cambodia, I have the honor to be here again to join you all
in the opening ceremony of the third Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival.
Since 2012, this Festival has become an annual event in Cambodia. Now,
the Japanese word “Kizuna” (meaning ties or a bond of friendship in
English) certainly is very familiar to me.
We all know that, last year we celebrated together the 60th anniversary
of the establishment of the Cambodia-Japan diplomatic relations. Many
interesting events took place during the commemorative year. And now, we
have just begun the 61st year
of the relations and we must continue to work together to further
strengthen the bonds (Kizuna) of friendship and cooperation between
Cambodia and Japan. Therefore, the Japan–Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2014 is
a timely and important event, as I truly feel that, each year this
festival contributes more significantly to the deepening of the exchange
and cooperation between Cambodia and Japan, not only in the field of
culture but also in a wide range of fields mutually beneficial to our
two nations.
It is
interesting to note that, as usual, this annual event takes place in the
“Angkor–Kizuna Hall” of the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre (CJCC), a
centre for the cultural exchanges between Cambodia and Japan. I am very
delighted that, this year again, artists, professionals, athletes and
volunteers from Japan and Cambodia meet and carry out remarkable work
during the coming four days and provide excellent opportunity for us to
enjoy and experience diverse artistic and cultural expressions of the
two countries.
Japanese
living culture is increasingly appreciated by young Cambodians as I
understand that costume play show (Cosplay in Japan), song contest,
concert performances held recently at the CJCC received a lot of
exciting reactions from them.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Beloved Students!
Culture is the
mirror through which we see ourselves and our own nation. Culture is
thus a bridge and a communication factor between people and nations. I
have noted that more than 20 events and exhibitions have been programmed
this year in various categories such as music, art exhibition, film,
martial art and sport, costume play, Japanese cuisine and so on. I am
also delighted to know that, on the last day, the remarkable performance
“One Asia Joint Concert” by the Japanese traditional group “AUN” with
artists from the ASEAN region at Angkor Wat last December will be
screened here. The performance by “AUN” commemorated the 20th anniversary
of the inscription of Angkor on the World Heritage List and certainly
it was my pleasure to attend their live concert in the most magical
setting with the towers of Angkor Wat soaring behind the stage. This anniversary concert was held in conjunction with the 20th Plenary
Session of the International Coordinating Committee for the
Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor)
and the 3rd Inter-Governmental Conference on Angkor, both co-chaired by
Japan and France.
Your Excellency Ambassador Kumamaru,
I wish through
you to extend my warm congratulations to the people of Japan that the
renowned and much-loved Japanese traditional cuisine, or “Washoku” in
Japanese, was added to the list of the World Intangible Heritage of
Humanity of UNESCO in December 2013. Indeed, the Japanese traditional
cuisine is very unique in its presentation, reflecting four seasons and
it is closely “associated with an essential spirit of respect for
nature.” Therefore, it is exciting to know that several prominent
Japanese chefs will be performing their artistic skills here during this
year’s Kizuna Festival.
Cambodia and
Japan have an immense wealth of cultural heritage and traditions. We
share a number of fundamental cultural values. I am sure that through
this kind of event, people of both nations will appreciate these values,
and understand and respect each other’s culture. And it is important
that our young generations need to be kept aware of the value of ancient
traditions so that they can nurture their culture and respect the
diversity of others as well.
Cambodia and
Japan have recently become strategic partners as a result of the
official visits of the top leaders of the two governments, and I am
confident that our bond of friendship and relations will be further
strengthened. We have become strong partners in safeguarding and
promoting the heritage of humanity, cultural values and diversity.
Intellectuals and cultural experts from Japan have long been present in
Cambodia and today more and more Japanese tourists are visiting Cambodia
whilst artists and researchers from Cambodia are well received in
Japan. These events in both countries will certainly further stimulate
mutual understanding and advance cooperative relations between the two
nations.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Beloved Students!
Before
concluding, I would like to express my deepest thanks to the organisers
of this event, artists and all the participants, particularly the
Embassy of Japan for making this important event possible. I finally
wish the festival a great success.
I now declare the JAPAN – CAMBODIA KIZUNA FESTIVAL 2014 open.
Thank you!