Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni speaks during the inauguration ceremony of the Constitutional Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sept. 24, 2024. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday inaugurated the Constitutional Monument in celebration of the 31st anniversary of the promulgation of the country's constitution.
Speaking at the event, Sihamoni said the Constitutional Monument shows that the Cambodian people are willing to respect, protect, uphold, and abide by the constitution as the kingdom's supreme law.
"As an indisputable truth, for more than 30 years of the implementation of the constitution, the kingdom of Cambodia has achieved peace and national unity as a result of the Win-Win Policy," the monarch said.
He said the monument revealed the proud link of the present to the past of the rich and glorious Cambodia, which has had a noble civilization and high prestige since ancient times.
"I am excited to see the Constitutional Monument has been completed in such a beautiful architectural form," he said. "The Constitutional Monument is a sacred monument representing the symbol of the rule of law with the constitution as the supreme law."
Sihamoni said the 1993 constitution has existed and been stable for more than three decades, a long period in the history of the constitution in the Southeast Asian country.
The Constitutional Monument is located in a public park west of the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh.
Im Chhun Lim, president of the Constitutional Council of Cambodia, said the 23.4-meter-tall Constitutional Monument was made from a metal structure, with the upper section made from 70 percent bronze and 30 percent copper, while the lower part was made from sandstone.
He added that the architecture of the monument was inspired by medieval architecture, a combination of Roman and Khmer architecture.
Chhun Lim said the 113-ton-monument took 14 months to be completed at the cost of 2.23 million U.S. dollars. ■
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (C, front) cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the Constitutional Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sept. 24, 2024. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024, shows the Constitutional Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday inaugurated the monument in celebration of the 31st anniversary of the promulgation of the country's constitution. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024, shows the Constitutional Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday inaugurated the monument in celebration of the 31st anniversary of the promulgation of the country's constitution. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024, shows the Constitutional Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday inaugurated the monument in celebration of the 31st anniversary of the promulgation of the country's constitution. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)
