PHNOM PENH, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Tuesday that a large number of public servants in the kingdom celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival.
The 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 5.
"A large number of civil servants join to celebrate the festival at ministries, departments, and houses," the Cambodian prime minister said in a Facebook post.
Hun Sen added that on Monday, a "majority of the people and vendors" in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, made offerings to their ancestors and had family gatherings happily during the festival.
He said people have full freedom to choose religious beliefs without any discrimination and to celebrate festivals according to their traditions.
"I would like to bless the compatriots with happiness, good luck and fortune throughout the 12 months," Hun Sen said.
The Chinese Lunar New Year is broadly celebrated in Cambodia, though it is not a public holiday.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian on Monday blessed the Chinese people, Cambodians of Chinese descent and all Cambodian people with good health, luck, and fortune as well as new success in the new year.
Thai Norak Sathya, a secretary of state and spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said the Chinese Lunar New Year has been observed in the kingdom since ancient times and its popularity has grown stronger from year to year.
