Page 16 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (99)

15 INTERACTION | 你来我往

ince its debut in November 2010, “The Smiling Angkor,” a grand song-and-
dance epic drama co-produced by Chinese and Cambodian artists, has blos- Milestones of Yunnan-Siem
somed into a prominent symbol of cultural interchange, illuminating the pro- Reap collaboration
Sfound and enduring friendship between the two nations. 云南与暹粒：友好省份合作大事记

“The Smiling Angkor”: A testament to Yunnan- In April 2006, Yunnan, China and Siem
Reap, Cambodia established a formal sis-
Siem Reap cultural collaboration ter-province relationship.

一抹微笑，两地情长
In April 2007, Yunnan and Siem Reap
Text by Wang Yunya and Chen Chen □ 王韵雅 陈晨 / 文 reached an agreement on the establishment
of an agricultural science and technology
demonstration park in Siem Reap. By Oc-
tober 2010, the project was successfully
completed.

In October 2016, Yunnan Investment
Holdings Group, along with Yunnan Con-
struction and Investment Holdings Group
and Yunnan Airport Group (YAG), formed
an investment and construction consortium
and signed the “Cambodia Siem Reap Ang-
kor International Airport Project Build-Op-
As the curtain rose, “The Smiling Angkor,” a masterpiece Smiling Angkor’ embodies the profound bond between Chi- erate-Transfer (BOT) Agreement” with
crafted specifically for tourists visiting Cambodia’s Angkor na’s Yunnan Province and Cambodia’s Siem Reap. Within the Cambodian Prime Minister’s Office in
Wat in Siem Reap, gave voice to a curious child with a string this grand cast from both nations, we are united by a shared Phnom Penh.
of questions: “Who are you? What’s your name? How old dream of progress and growth.”
are you? Why are you smiling?” The magnificent production In November 2010, “The Smiling Angkor,” a grand per-
brought the enigmatic four-faced Buddhist idol to life, capti- manent cultural and tourism production, was unveiled with In December 2018, Yunnan initiated
vating audiences with its charm and intrigue. the support of China’s Ministry of Culture (now China’s the “Promoting Friendly Cities Exchange
On the brilliantly illuminated stage, a procession of sol- Ministry of Culture and Tourism) and Cambodia’s Ministry – China-Cambodia Senior Tourism Talent
diers stands tall, protecting the Angkor Dynasty. The seam- of Culture and Arts. This remarkable endeavor was brought Seminar” in Siem Reap to foster the devel-
less fusion of sound, light, and choreography technology to life through the substantial investment of the OCT Yunnan opment of skilled individuals in the local
weaves a mesmerizing tale of the timeless Angkor civiliza- Cultural Industry Investment Group. tourism industry.
tion, handed down through the ages. The performers show- Ever since its inception as a fruit of the cultural collabora-
case their acrobatic prowess, transitioning through countless tion between Yunnan and Siem Reap, “The Smiling Angkor”
postures and forms, beckoning the audience to delve into the has graced the stage in Siem Reap over a thousand times, In September 2019, the Yunnan Provin-
origins of the enigmatic smile. enchanting an audience of more than 700,000 individuals cial Medical Team launched the ‘Brightness
Wang Zhizhen, a talented dancer hailing from Yunnan, from over 60 countries across the globe. It has evolved into a Action” program at the Ophthalmology
takes on the demanding role of the traditional acrobatic lan- cherished cultural treasure, evoking pride in both China and Hospital of the Provincial Hospital of Siem
tern rolling performance with remarkable grace, garnering Cambodia. Through this exceptional creation, the indelible Reap and the Cambodia-Japan Friendship
resounding applause after every display. With each perfor- essence of culture and the enduring bonds of friendship are Center Hospital of Banteay Meanchey in
mance, her heart swells with deep emotions. Wang said, “‘The perpetuated. Cambodia. Throughout the program, a total
of 127 cataract surgeries were successfully
performed.

In November 2021, Dali Bai Auton-
omous Prefecture of Yunnan Province
and Siem Reap reached an agreement
and signed a letter of intent to establish a
friendly cities relationship.

In October 2022, Yunnan launched a
people’s well-being project in Siem Reap,
assisting a local village with water scarcity
in digging 7 deep wells.

On October 16, 2023, the Siem Reap
Angkor International Airport, a significant
project resulting from the “Belt and Road”
cooperation between China and Cambodia,
was officially inaugurated.