Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, accompanied by his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath, left for Beijing on Friday for a routine medical checkup.
At the Phnom Penh International Airport, the royal family was seen off by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo as well as other dignitaries.
In a royal message to the Cambodian people, Sihamoni said that his trip to Beijing was to have his health checked up.
"During my absence, Samdech Say Chhum, president of the Senate, will assume the title of the acting head of state of the Kingdom of Cambodia," he said.
The king usually has his health checked up by Chinese doctors twice a year. His last body checkup was in July last year.
