Paris (FN), Nov. 16 – Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni mentioned that the Royal Government, led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, places a high priority on education and vocational training. Therefore, the king urged UNESCO to contribute to the creation of new training programs aimed at enhancing youth capacity in the kingdom.

The king spoke at the 4th Inter-governmental Conference for Safeguarding and Development of Angkor, held on 15 November 2023 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

"UNESCO consistently prioritises the education sector, and the Royal Government, under the leadership of the new Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, is equally committed to prioritising education and vocational training. I have full confidence that the commitment of the head of the Royal Government will be supported, and I urge UNESCO to contribute to the development of new training programs," the king underlined.

The king continued, Cambodia is now in a state of full peace and is evolving into a modern state. Therefore, the development of UNESCO programs, especially those related to education and vocational training, is crucial in response to the aspirations for knowledge and progress among Cambodian youth.

"Cambodia aspires to achieve ambitious standards, and this can be realized through human resource training. In this spirit, the establishment of a large, sustainable documentation center will be a valuable asset, and we will strive to achieve this. The documentation center will serve as a memory of Angkor," added the king.

Furthermore, the king highlighted that, beyond UNESCO's traditional programs, there are additional areas of focus, including tourism, environmental initiatives, skills training for temple restoration, vocational training in new information and technology, and the protection and management of the Tonle Sap Lake. UNESCO has designated the Tonle Sap Lake as Cambodia's first biodiversity reserve.
=FRESH NEWS