Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Monday that the Chinese Lunar New Year has gained great popularity in the kingdom, estimating that up to 80 percent of the population observe it.
In a speech during a graduation ceremony of nearly 6,800 students at the Cambodian University for Specialties, Hun Sen said previously, about 10 percent only of the people in his commune celebrated the festival.
"Now, around 70-80 percent celebrate it," the 70-year-old prime minister said.
Hun Sen said all of his family members, including his wife, children, children-in-law and grandchildren, celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The 2023 Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, fell on Sunday.
Sambo Manara, vice president of Pannasastra University of Cambodia, said historic relations have brought about closer bonds of friendship between the peoples of Cambodia and China.
"A large number of Cambodians have Chinese ancestry, and we estimate that about 80 percent of Cambodians living in urban areas and 40 percent in rural areas celebrate the Chinese New Year," he told Xinhua.
Diep Sophal, a history professor at the University of Cambodia, said the Southeast Asian nation usually observes three New Year festivals a year, namely the Universal New Year, the Chinese New Year and the Cambodian New Year.
He said days prior to the festival, Cambodian people with Chinese ancestors always clean and decorate their houses with red color paper-cuts, flowers, red lanterns and Chinese couplets.
The Chinese New Year is not a public holiday in Cambodia, but it is widely celebrated as some schools, private companies and institutions are closed by themselves on the occasion.
- Up to 80 pct of Cambodian people celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year
- People celebrate upcoming Spring Festival across China
- Xi makes video calls to people across China, extending festive greetings ahead of Year of Rabbit
- China issues white paper on green development in new era
- Decorations featuring image of rabbit add festive atmosphere to upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year
- How a village welcomes Chinese New Year
Popular Videos
Hot comments
- China Life: Chinese women shine with She Power
- First apes at U.S. zoo receive COVID-19 vaccine made for animals, zoo official says
- 86-year-old grandma in Hebei spends most her life on traditional cheongsam
- Homemade curling videos trending in China
- Lantern Festival: A romantic celebration in China
- China’s only captive male manul dies of choking
- Seven things you may not know about Lantern Festival
- Encounter golden ‘dragon’ on dazzling Yulong River
- People enjoy Spring Festival atmosphere across China
- China, Europe cooperation fuels EV market
Top Reviews
- Up to 80 pct of Cambodian people celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year
- Nepali envoy hopes Chinese return en masse
- China fellowship launched by European Commission
- Guangxi tourism market booms during Spring Festival holiday
- Xi sends Spring Festival greetings
- People enjoy Spring Festival atmosphere across China
- Xi inspects combat readiness of armed forces
- Xi Jinping unanimously elected deputy to 14th NPC
- Chinese leaders extend Spring Festival greetings to veteran comrades
- 24 Solar Terms: 6 things you must know about Major Cold