Artists perform at a Cambodia-China international street art performance at the Pub Street area in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua)

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodia-China international street art performance kicked off here at the Pub Street area in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province on Saturday evening, captivating throngs of domestic and foreign tourists.

The two-hour spectacular event featured traditional music, songs and dances, reflecting the cultural diversity of both countries and receiving hearty rounds of applause from the spectators.

Speaking at the event, Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak said the free-admission event, which will also be held on Sunday, was designed to promote the Cambodia-China Tourism Year campaign and the kingdom's pilot visa-free policy for Chinese tourists, which will be implemented from June 15 to October 15, 2026.

He said Cambodia welcomed 5.57 million international tourists in 2025, and China was the second-largest source of foreign holidaymakers, with some 1.2 million Chinese visitors traveling to the kingdom last year, up 41.5 percent year-on-year.

The minister added that in the first two months of 2026, Cambodia received approximately 690,000 international tourists, including 150,000 Chinese tourists.

"Indeed, it is undeniable that the future of Cambodia's tourism sector is inseparable from the inflows of Chinese tourists and investors," he said.

Siem Reap provincial deputy governor Ngov Sengkak said the event has not only entertained passers-by but also promoted cultural values and deepened the bonds of friendship between the people of the two countries.

"Such a magnificent performance has not only helped attract tourists to Siem Reap province, home to the Angkor Archaeological Park, but also connected the hearts of our people, Cambodia and China," he said. ■