Cambodia has held a ceremony to mark the return of cultural artifacts from abroad under the chair of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Addressing the event on March 17, PM Hun Sen appreciated the cooperation from other countries’ governments and the parties concerned, especially the US and the UK, in preventing the trafficking of cultural assets and returning Cambodian cultural antiquities, as well as UNESCO’s efforts in protecting and maintaining heritage of humankind.

He praised tireless efforts by the country’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and relevant agencies to repatriate the priceless antiquities of the Cambodian people.

He appealed to museums, institutions and antique collectors who have possessed Khmer antiquities to return those ancient objects to Cambodia voluntarily, adding that the return of those artifacts will be highly appreciated.

Recently, 77 Cambodian traditional jewelry pieces made of gold and precious metals, large and small, were brought from the UK to Cambodia on February 17 by a Cambodian team led by Hun Many, with cooperation from the UK and support from the Cambodian Embassy in the UK.

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has also been reportedly working with the US Government and other countries, as well as continuing negotiations with private institutions and collectors, to prepare procedures for claiming and bringing back more Cambodian artifacts./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency