SIEM REAP, Cambodia, March 16-- A UNESCO and Chinese experts team on Monday began providing a five-day training course to more than 100 Cambodian culture officials on the work of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona expressed her gratitude to UNESCO and the Chinese government for supporting Cambodia in its efforts to safeguard and preserve intangible cultural heritage. "The training is very important to build capacity for Cambodian officials in their work of safeguarding, preserving and compiling the inventory of intangible cultural heritage,"she said.

The event was co-hosted by Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and UNESCO-Phnom Penh Office under the sponsorship of the Beijing-based International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP).

Anne Lemaistre, UNESCO Representative in Cambodia, said Chinese artists and masters from CRIHAP and UNESCO trainers would share their experiences and expertise with Cambodian officials and related NGOs' representatives during the course. "This workshop will be very beneficial for Cambodian officials and practitioners in terms of best safeguarding practices brought by Chinese artist, masters, experts and UNESCO Trainers,"she said.

CRIHAP's director general Xu Rong said it was the second time that CRIHAP provided the training to Cambodian officials. "The workshop will be focused on how digital technology can be applied to preserve intangible cultural heritage,"she said.