Cambodia celebrates 54th birthday of King Sihamoni

Cambodia on Monday celebrated the 54th birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni with a three- day public holiday and various posters erected on main boulevards to highlight the monarch's image.

According to the government's notice, the public holiday ran from Monday to Wednesday all over the kingdom.

Meanwhile, huge posters of the King could be seen near the Independence Monument, and above the front gates of the Royal Palace, the National Assembly and some ministries.

Major newspapers on Monday published stories and many rarely- seen file photos of the monarch.

They also printed full pages of blessing and admiration from senior government officials and close friends of the King.

On Saturday, a diplomatic team from the Chinese Embassy met the King at the Royal Palace to wish him happy birthday.

Sihamoni was chosen as Cambodia's monarch by the nine-member Royal Council in October 2004, after his father, former king Norodom Sihanouk, announced abdication. He is the second king for the Kingdom of Cambodia in its 60 years strong of history.

Sihamoni was born on May 14, 1953, in Phnom Penh, as son of Sihanouk and former queen Monineath.

Source: Xinhua