PHNOM PENH, Sept. 25 -- A troupe of Chinese artists from Soochow University in Suzhou City of eastern China performed Chinese dances, songs and operas here on Thursday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute.

The event, co-organized by the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, was held at the Chaktomuk Theater in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and drew about 500 spectators.

Speaking at the opening of the show, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona congratulated the Confucius Institute on its 10th anniversary and fully supported Chinese art performance in Cambodia.

"This performance will contribute to further broadening cultural relations between the two countries," she said.

She also hailed the Confucius Institute for its active role in promoting Chinese language and culture to the world.

"Chinese language has been playing a vital role in communication at the moment and it goes very popular among Cambodian people," she said.

Meanwhile, the minister said since the formation of Cambodia- China diplomatic relations in 1958, the two countries have always helped each other, standing on the respect of sovereignty, friendship, equality, brotherhood and mutual interest.

"The Sino-Cambodian ties have been strengthened and expanded gradually in all fields and was upgraded to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation in 2010," she said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo expressed gratitude to the Cambodian government for supporting the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, a branch of the Confucius Institute, since it was established in Phnom Penh in 2009.

"The Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia has actively helped the exchange of language and culture between China and Cambodia, and has contributed to further promoting relations between the two countries," she said.

Chea Munyrith, director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the Confucius Institute was established in 2004 with an aim to promote Chinese language and culture to the world. So far, it has branches in 123 countries around the globe.