Leaders of Cambodia and South Korea in Siem Reap on Tuesday inaugurated the 50-day long Angkor- Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006, which aims to enhance bilateral cultural cooperation and draw 30,000 visitors to the kingdom's historical sight-seeing spot.

"This world expo shows that Cambodia is rich of culture and also shows us that the cultural cooperation and relationship between our two countries is fruitful and remarkable," said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The extravaganza could play a key role in improving the cultural ties between human and human and between human and nature to secure peace and harmony, he said.

"The expo will become the Olympic games of culture which should cross country borders to realize peace and harmony for the human beings," he added.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said that Cambodia would be the honest friend for South Korea and the expo would push for prosperity and development for both countries.

"The South Korean people want to know more about the Cambodian people and the expo will help the peoples understand each other better," he said.

The cultural cooperation between the two countries and that with other countries in East Asia would keep Cambodia active, he said, adding that South Korea was one of the top five foreign tourist providers for the kingdom.

In addition, both leaders also confirmed that such an event would promote tourism and contribute to the conservation of Angkor, which is aged thousands of years and now on UNESCO's World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Hor Nam Hong, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told Xinhua that the expo could enhance the mutual understanding of both peoples and make all the world know more about Angkor and Gyeongju.

Sous Yara, head of the secretariat for organizing the expo told Xinhua that 6 million U.S. dollars was spent to realize the extravaganza, and performers and artists from 16 countries would stand in the spotlight and more than 4,000 policemen and armed forces safeguard the event.

With artistic shows take place, business people are allowed to sell food, drinks, handicrafts and agricultural products during the event, he added.

South Korea and Cambodia resumed diplomatic ties in 1997 and the expo was held right before the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the ties.

In 2005, the bilateral trade between South Korea and Cambodia stood at 150 million U.S. dollars, while Korean investment in Cambodia amounted to 219 million U.S. dollars over the same period.

Source: Xinhua