On 25 February 2014, ASEAN-China Centre held the launching ceremony of a 30-episode TV drama in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. At the invitation of Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang, H. E. Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Sok An and Madam attended the ceremony, and H. E. Mr. Sok An delivered the keynote speech to commend the ACC for its initiative to help Cambodia to promote its attractive tourism destinations and culture through mass media. H. E. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Madam Bu Jianguo, ,and H. E. Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon,, also expressed their appreciations for the continuous efforts ACC has made in organizing activities to enhance people-to-people connectivity between Cambodia and China. H. E. Cambodian Cultural Ministe Phoeung Sakona, together with more than 300 guests from both sides witnessed the launching ceremony.
In his opening remarks, Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang emphasized the mandate of ACC as an inter-governmental organization to promote friendly cooperation between ASEAN Member States and China. He believed that such initiative to organize filming of the TV drama in Cambodia shall not only improve public awareness on the long-lived friendship and interaction between the two countries, but also attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia. Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang also expressed his heart-felt gratitude to the Cambodian government for its valuable support extended to various ACC activities.
To make the TV drama series, 100 Chinese cast and crew will spend more than one month shooting tourist sites in Phnom Penh and the ancient Angkor Wat temple, a World Heritage Site in Cambodia. H. E. Deputy Prime Minister Sok An believed that it will help further strengthen cultural ties between Cambodia and China. Moreover, the TV Drama will help raise the profile of Cambodia among Chinese viewers and help promote more Chinese outbound travellers to visit the country.
H. E. Ambassador Bu Jianguo said it was a milestone for cultural relations and cooperation between China and Cambodia. "Through the drama series, Chinese will better understand Cambodian culture and daily life," she said, "I have confidence that more Chinese people will visit Cambodia after they watch this TV series."
According to H. E. Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon, China is the second largest source of tourists to Cambodia. In 2013, some 463,000 Chinese visited Cambodia, up 39 percent from the previous year. "Cambodia is expected to greet 800,000 Chinese visitors in 2015 and up to 2 million in 2020," he said. The Minister hoped that the TV series will help promote Cambodia's tourism destinations to the Chinese market.
ACC’s endeavor attracted great interest and attention from the media. Xinhua New Agency, China Radio International, China Daily as well as Sina, Sohu, Huanqiu, and Ifeng covered the event with stories highlighting the strategic importance of ASEAN-China relations and ACC’s role in strengthening the cultural ties between Cambodia and China.
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