Cambodia (officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia) and once known as the Khmer Empire, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its total landmass is 181,035 square kilometres, bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh.
In 1863, Cambodia became a protectorate of France, and later was part of French Indochina, interrupted by a period of Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953.
The government is a constitutional monarchy operated as a parliamentary representative democracy. The Prime Minister of Cambodia is the head of government, while the King of Cambodia is the head of state. The prime minister is appointed by the king, on the advice and with the approval of the National Assembly. The prime minister and the ministerial appointees exercise executive power. |
