Experts' Angkor Wat contributions recognized

"Chinese and Cambodian people have a long friendship," said Hu Bing, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, at the conference. "China will spare no effort working with counterparts from other countries to contribute our strength to protecting Angkor."

China and Cambodia signed an agreement earlier this year to form a Sino-Cambodian joint working group to lead the conservation of the ruins of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom.

Preliminary archaeological research on the royal palace, which covers 130,000 sq m, has been carried out by the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage.

Academic research and the design of follow-up displays of the heritage will also be part of the project.

"When China was tasked with restoring and studying one of the most important heritage sites in Angkor, it shows our past work has been well recognized," Hu said. "Interdisciplinary research will be introduced to explore experiences combining protection of heritage and sustainable development."