PHNOM PENH: The King of Cambodia, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, together with Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Cambodia, departed to China on Sunday, 21 August, to undergo a routine medical checkup in China.

The special aircraft carrying the King and Queen Mother left Phnom Penh International Airport at around 8:45 am on Sunday morning.

In a royal message dated 16 August, King Norodom Sihamoni stated that he and the Queen Mother would be absent from the motherland from 21 August onwards. During his absence, Senate President Say Chhum will be the acting head of state until his return to Cambodia.

The King and Queen Mother routinely fly to China for medical check-ups. This the second time this year that the King and Queen mother have departed to Beijing for their health checkup, the last time being in March.