On the morning of November 4, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the opening of the exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the National Archives of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. The exhibition, themed “A Century of Memory: Promoting National Identity”, runs for one month and is open free of charge to the public and visitors from Cambodia and abroad.
The exhibition presents Cambodia’s historical development from the pre-Angkorian period to modern society, featuring valuable historical documents, national archives and achievements in digitisation. Through original records, visitors can learn about the country’s historical changes and cultural heritage.
In his address, Hun Manet stressed the irreplaceable value of national archives. He said: “The National Bank stores gold, but the documents preserved in the National Archives are even more precious than gold.” These original documents are important testimony to the country’s history and identity and can also provide strong evidence in major matters such as border disputes.
He also called for faster digitisation of the National Archives, libraries and museums, and specifically instructed that material relating to online scams be organised and archived to leave historical records and warnings for future generations.
Addressing the shortage of professionals in archives and libraries, Hun Manet asked the government to use scholarships and other means to send outstanding students abroad for further study and specialist training. He also encouraged Cambodian scholars to use original archival records to research and write the country’s history from a Khmer perspective.
Founded in 1926, the National Archives of Cambodia faced serious risks of destruction from war and environmental conditions. After years of cataloguing and restoration, they have become an important institution for preserving the country’s historical memory, serving academic research and safeguarding national interests.
