Cambodia intends to host the 36th World Heritage Committee meeting in 2012

via CAAI

PHNOM PENH, Sep 14, 2010 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Cambodia intends to host the 36th World Heritage Committee (WHC) 2012 meeting in the country's northern province of Siem Reap, a government official said Tuesday.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Office of the Council of Ministers, said Cambodia has already expressed its readiness and intention to UNESCO to host the 36th WHC meeting.

He said, Cambodia is now vice chairman of the WHC and this country's richness in cultural sites along with nearly 1,000 temples and preservation experiences is fit to the event.

For the purpose itself, Phay Siphan said Cambodia wants to share its experiences in the conservation and preservation works that have been worked with many development partners for many ruin temples across the country.

He said, if approved as planned, the meeting will be held in Siem Reap, the country's tourism hub where is rich of cultural sites along with world famous temple of Angkor Wat.

The 35th meeting of WHC will be held in July next year in Bahrain.

Phay Siphan said that Cambodia has sufficient experience to share with other WHC members in the preservation of ancient temples.

Currently, there are 187 members of the WHC.

On the location, Phay Siphan said, Siem Reap is known as the world's tourist destination where has been used as a place for accommodating many world's leaders and international events.

He said everything is there such as good infrastructure, safety, cultural sites and preservation work is being carried on.

Cambodia is located in tropical region and in Southeast Asia-- is known as a country where is rich in cultural heritage such as Angko Wat Temple, Preah Vihear Temple, both were registered as Word Heritage Sites and it records as having more than 800 temples across the country as well as the old and rich in arts, culture and tradition.