Confucius Institution at Royal Academy of Cambodia Attends “2018 ASEAN-China-Japan-ROK International Cultural Festival”

On April 1st, 2018 ASEAN-China-Japan-ROK International Cultural Festival was held in Phnom Penh by the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Lav Chhiv Eav, Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia, Dam Dariny, Vice President of Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, Cheat Chealy, President of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Wang Dexin, Director of Political Section of Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, and envoys from other countries were present at festival. Xia Xiulong, Chinese Director of Confucius Institution and teachers from Phnom Penh attended the event.

There were seven exhibitions in the festival: national exhibition, food specialty, traditional games, souvenir, documentary, questions and answers and art performance. The various activities showed diverse cultures of these countries.

Audience waving Chinese flags

After the opening ceremony, audience surged up to the China pavilion. Visitors from all over the world put on Hanfu (clothes in Han Dynasty), costume and cheongsam (clothes in Qing Dynasty) and took photos excitedly. Passionate visitors crowded to the booth of calligraphy, tea art and Guzheng, and were eager to try. Lav Chhiv Eav cheerfully showed his calligraphy in front of the China pavilion. By writing down “中柬友谊赞 (fabulous friendship between China and Cambodia)”, Wang Dexin expressed his wish for the long term friendship between the people of the two countries.

Lav Chhiv Eav writing an inscription in front of China pavilion

Dam Dariny tasting Chinese tea

Calligraphy show

At 2:30 p.m., traditional Chinese games well-prepared by the teachers from Confucius Institution kicked off. There are four sections: pitch-pot, Cuju (ancient Chinese football game), sandbag throwing and cock fighting and audience actively participated in the games. With the progress of one game and another, the atmosphere was very lively with all the audience whether on or off the stage laughing and cheering.

Pitch-pot

Cuju

Delicacies in China pavilion were also attractive. All kinds of cuisines were deeply loved by the audience.

In addition, in traditional art performance, young actors showed strong and powerful Chinese martial arts and deeply impressed the audience.

Chinese martial arts

Teachers of Confucius Institution present at the festival

This ASEAN-China-Japan-POK International Cultural Festival converged the cultural essence of East Asian and Southeast Asian countries and promoted the cultural prosperity and development of different countries in the exhibitions and exchanges. Taking full advantage of this cultural exchange platform, the Confucius Institution at Royal Academy of Cambodia showed the charm of traditional Chinese culture and promoted the cultural exchanges with other countries.

Story by Tang Xue; Photos by Long Hongming and Zhou Lin