Cambodia to host kite festival

Cambodia is planned to host an international kite festival early next month to show the world of its culture, tradition and the unique kite, according to an official on Friday.

Sim Sarak, director general of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said that an international kite festival will be held in Koh Kong province on Jan. 6-7.

Koh Kong province is located about 270 km southwest of Phnom Penh and is bordering with Trat Province of Thailand.

He said the participating countries to the event will include China, Sweden, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.

Sim Sarak said Cambodian people are proud of its traditional kite, known as "Kleng Ek" which means a kite with both unique sound and musical instrument.

He said Cambodian "Kleng Ek" has long tradition of existence, but was once gone out during Democratic Kampuchea in late 1970s--and is now totally survived and gained reputation.

Kite festival was first organized in 1994 and it has ever since organized on yearly basis.

Source: Xinhua