ANN/THE STAR – China’s Shaolin Kung Fu martial artists and Cambodian Bokator martial artists yesterday jointly performed When Shaolin Meets Bokator at the famed Angkor Archaeological Park, attracting crowds of spectators.
Held at the northern part of Bayon Temple in the complex of the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the event was part of joint activities organised to celebrate the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the joint show, Cambodian Tourism Minister Sok Soken said the event was designed to promote tourism and cultural exchanges between Cambodia and China.
“The event is essential to help enhance the bonds of friendship between the two countries and peoples,” he said.
“We believe that the event will help attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia and promote Cambodia’s potential tourist destinations to China.”
Soken said the Southeast Asian country recorded 5.4 million international tourists, including some 540,000 Chinese tourists, in 2023.
In the first quarter of 2024, Cambodia received roughly 1.5 million international tourists, up 22 per cent, he said.