French Minister for Culture and Communications Concludes Her Visit in Cambodia

French Minister for Culture and Communications H.E. Ms. Aurélie Filippetti, concluded today her three-day visit in Cambodia.

During her stay in the Kingdom, H.E. Ms. Aurélie Filippetti participated in the 3rd Intergovernmental Conference on Angkor which took place in Siem Reap on Dec. 5, said a French Embassy’s press release.

This participation, at ministerial level, in the discussions about the future of Angkor is a sign of the commitment of France and its research teams, to continue to play a leading role in the preservation and the development of Angkor, together with its Japanese and Cambodian friends. On the occasion, the French minister pointed out that sustainable tourist management of the site is probably the main challenge to be addressed by all stakeholders and underlined that France was ready to share its experience and expertise with Cambodia in this field. Finally, she stressed the importance of capitalizing the tremendous experience and knowledge built in the unique framework of the International Coordination Committee and suggested the creation of a regional training center on heritage for professionals.

H.E. Ms. Aurélie Filippetti also visited on-going restoration sites where French experts from the Ecole Française d’Extrême Orient (EFEO) and the Institut National de Recherche Archéologique Préventive (INRAP) are working, said the press release, adding that an agreement between INRAP and APSARA Authority was signed on Dec. 5 to develop preventive archeological search currently conducted near Siem Reap’s airport.

According to the press release, the visit of the French culture minister was also an opportunity to sign with H.E. Ms. Phoeung Sakona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, an important agreement on joint movie production between France and Cambodia. Franco-Cambodian director Rithy Panh and French Director Régis Wargnier, who will soon start shooting in Cambodia an adaptation of the book « The Gate », attended the signing ceremony. This type of agreement, the fifth of its kind signed with an Asian country, has been so far signed with countries with important movie industries (India, China, Japan and South Korea).

The agreement signed with Cambodia will reinforce Cambodia’s attractiveness for French and European movie productions, since more than 200 movie productions have already been arranged in Cambodia with the assistance of Cambodia’s Film Commission, generating more than US$13 million economic benefits.

In addition, H.E. Ms. Aurélie Filippetti was also received in a royal audience by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews