Cambodian King flies to Beijing for medical checkup

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, along with his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath, left Cambodia for Beijing, China, on Thursday for a regular medical checkup.

At the Phnom Penh International Airport, the royal family was seen off by Prime Minister Hun Sen, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who is also president of the royalist Funcinpec Party, and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo, among other dignitaries.

In a royal message to Cambodians, the 61-year-old king said his trip to Beijing was to have his health checked up.

"During my absence, Chea Sim, president of the Senate, will assume the title of the acting head of state of Cambodia."

The king usually has his health checked up by Chinese doctors twice a year. His last body checkup and treatment were in August last year.