Laying Wreaths : Visiting the Independence Monument and Memorial

As part of his state visit to Cambodia, President U Min Aung Hlaing visited the Independence Monument and King Norodom Sihanouk Memorial in Phnom Penh on Friday.

Upon arrival at the independence monument, President U Min Aung Hlaing was cordially welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Cambodia, Mr. Tea Seiha and high ranking officials. After receiving salute of the honorary guard, President U Min Aung Hlaing laid a wreath at the monument.

The president then proceeded to King Norodom Sihanouk Memorial and laid a wreath at the memorial and saluted the statue of King Norodom Sihanouk. The Independence Monument was constructed in 1958 and officially inaugurated in 1962 to commemorate Cambodia’s independence from French rule in 1953.

A large statue of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, a prominent leader of Cambodia’s independence movement who passed away in 2012, was erected as a memorial in the park, east of the Independence Monument. As part of the diplomatic visits of international heads of state, wreath-laying ceremonies are held at the Independence Monument to pay tribute to Cambodia’s independence heroes, as well as at the memorial in homage to the late King.