Siem Reap [Cambodia], March 22 (ANI): Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran, visited the Angkor Wat temple complex during his official trip to Siem Reap, underscoring the deep civilisational links between India and Cambodia. The visit highlighted enduring people-to-people and cultural ties built over decades of cooperation between New Delhi and Phnom Penh.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X that Kumaran’s visit recognised India’s role in preserving the UNESCO World Heritage site. From 1986 to 1993, India was the first country to provide restoration assistance after Cambodia’s years of conflict, with the Archaeological Survey of India undertaking stabilisation and conservation work on key sections of Angkor Wat.
Built in the 12th century by Khmer emperor Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple and later becoming a major Buddhist complex, Angkor Wat’s towers and intricate bas-reliefs reflect strong influences from Indian religious and artistic traditions, including themes from Hindu epics and Sanskrit inscriptions that testify to long-standing cultural exchange.
India’s restoration efforts responded to a Cambodian request following the damage and neglect during the Khmer Rouge era. The ASI’s work helped revive one of Cambodia’s most iconic sites and fostered goodwill. India’s heritage collaboration in the region has also included conservation projects at Ta Prohm and Preah Vihear, forming a key element of cultural diplomacy under India’s Act East Policy.
Kumaran’s visit, occurring amid high-level bilateral engagements in Siem Reap, reaffirmed commitments to deepen ties through cultural preservation, tourism, and heritage cooperation. It also aligned with broader dialogues to expand India-Cambodia cooperation in education, trade, and strategic partnership, reinforcing civilisational bonds at the core of diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
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