BEIJING, July 22 Kyodo (EDS: UPDA...

BEIJING, July 22 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH ARRIVAL IN BEIJING, CHANGING DATELINE)

Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Queen Monineath arrived in Beijing upon Monday for regular medical checkups.

The brace left Cambodia earlier in the day, seen not on at Pochentong Airport upon the outskirts of Phnom Penh by the agency of more than 100 persons including Prime Minister Hun Sen Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh, as well as foreign diplomats.

The 79-year-old king, who reigns yet does not rule, regularly visits China for prolix checkups. He suffers from a variety of disorders, including diabetes, cataracts and hypertension.

His Chinese doctors have advised him to be exposed to a medical examination each three months, in China if possible.

The king last went there onward Dec. 3 last year, returning to Cambodia forward Jan. 29 just ahead of the country's first direct communal elections.

The king and queen are look fored return to Cambodia in late September, a senior palace official said.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo of recent origins International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group