A monarch for his people

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Norodom Sihanouk, the former king of Cambodia, passed away in Beijing at the age of 90 early on Monday morning. Having lived in exile in China, Sihanouk often referred to the country as his "second homeland", and it was from China that he received his strongest political support in times of adversity, and almost all his medical treatment in the last years of his life after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994.

The news of Sihanouk's death reminded many people of the decades the late monarch had spent in China since the 1950s. China Central Television's news channel, which has recently been dominated by reports of territorial disputes with Japan, spent most of Monday covering the death and remembering the former king. Social networking sites, such as Sina Weibo, were flooded with condolences and reminiscences of the former Cambodian leader.

Official statements said that Sihanouk died in hospital at 2:20 am, citing natural causes. The former king, who had cancer, diabetes and hypertension, had been receiving treatment in Beijing for several years.

China expressed the deep respect it felt for the "great friend of the Chinese people", as the Foreign Ministry described Sihanouk in a statement.

President Hu Jintao said in a letter of condolence that Sihanouk's outstanding contribution to China-Cambodia ties will be imprinted in history.

China is keen to work with Cambodia to enhance the tradition of cooperation left by Sihanouk and Chinese leaders, Hu said.

Born in 1922, Sihanouk was king of Cambodia twice, from 1941 to 1955 and then from 1993 until he abdicated in 2004, in favor of his son, the current king.

Questions:

1. Which country’s exiled monarch has just died?

2. Where in China did the exiled monarch pass away?

3. In what year was Sihanouk born?

Answers:

1. Cambodia.

2. Beijing.

3. 1922.

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.