Exhibition celebrates millennial civilizations

PHNOM PENH — An exhibition depicting China-Cambodia millennial civilizations kicked off in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Wednesday.

Introduced by the National Museum of Cambodia, in collaboration with the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, the exhibition, the first of its kind, showcased Chinese bronze statues, Chinese representation in arts, Chinese coins, Chinese ceramics and Angkor's trade networks, as well as Chinese efforts in the conservation, restoration and study of Cambodian heritage.

Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin presided over the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Sackona said the peoples of China and Cambodia have been connected through trade, diplomacy, religion and art for millennia.

"From the arrival of Buddhist bronzes and fine ceramics to the depiction of Chinese figures in Angkorian temples, these exchanges have left a lasting imprint on Cambodia's cultural landscape," she said.

The exhibition traces the presence of China in Cambodia through ancient bronze sculptures and Chinese imagery in Angkorian art as well as the circulation of Chinese coins and ceramics through maritime trade, she said.

"The exhibition not only reflects a shared past but also celebrates the ongoing friendship between Cambodia and China, built on mutual respect and a common commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations."

Sackona expressed her sincere gratitude to China for helping preserve and restore ruined temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park.

"Currently, this partnership continues to grow through joint conservation projects, archaeological research and cultural exchange," she said.

Ancient art objects

Chhay Visoth, director of the National Museum of Cambodia, said the exhibition displayed ancient Chinese art objects, including bronzes, ceramics, and architectural decorative elements from Chinese houses or religious buildings.

"This is the first time that the National Museum of Cambodia is displaying Chinese artifacts found in Cambodia from the Angkorian era to the present," he said. "The main purpose of the exhibition is to celebrate the millennia-old friendship between Cambodia and China and to highlight the cultural ties between the two peoples that have continued from ancient times to the present."

Visoth expected the exhibition to attract a large number of national and international tourists. "By presenting these ancient objects here, we hope this exhibition will serve as a doorway, inviting and inspiring the future study of Chinese material culture in Cambodia," he said.

Ros Kunthy, a visitor, said the exhibition gave a unique opportunity for tourists and archaeologists to explore the ancient connections between the peoples of Cambodia and China.

"It's fascinating to see centuries-old or perhaps millennia-old Chinese artifacts discovered in Cambodia," she told Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhua