DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Sunday celebrated the 15th Anniversary of National Culture Day with a series of traditional songs, dances and performances conducted by artists from various provinces.

The event, held at the capital's Chaktomuk Theater, was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and attended by some 850 people including government officials, parliamentarians, senators, diplomatic corps, writers, artists and students.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hun Sen appealed to all television stations to help promote national culture through producing more programs pertinent to traditional songs, dances and performances. "Culture is the nation's invaluable spirit and identification,so it is very important to educate people to contribute to maintaining, protecting and giving value to national culture," he said.

The prime minister said Cambodia is proud of its culture as a number of tangible and intangible cultural heritages have gained international reputations and some have been listed as the world heritages such as Angkor Archeological Park, Royal Ballet, Sbek Thom or Khmer Shadow Theater and Preah Vihear Temple. "We have been preparing documents to include some more tangible and intangible cultural heritages in the world heritage list,"he said.

Meanwhile, the premier advised writers and artists to help prevent the influx of negative foreign cultures and urged them to avoid plagiarism, saying that it is an infringement of intellectual property rights.

Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Him Chhem said the 15th Anniversary of National Culture Day was made under the theme " Everything is for the progress of national culture".

He said the day was a cultural milestone for Cambodia in order to enhance cultural heritages, national dignity and to prevent the inflows of negative foreign cultures.