By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- Cambodia's newly selected king returned from China on Wednesday to take up the throne after his father, outgoing monarch Norodom Sihanouk, abdicated earlier this month because of poor health.

Little-known Prince Norodom Sihamoni arrived with his ailing father from Beijing, where Sihanouk, 81, has spent most of the past nine months receiving medical treatment and staying in self-imposed exile to protest bickering among his country's political leaders.

A nine-member Throne Council unanimously chose Sihamoni as king last Thursday, one week after Sihanouk stepped down. A coronation ceremony for Sihamoni is scheduled for Oct. 29.

Sihamoni was greeted at the airport by Cambodia's top political leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, acting head of state Chea Sim and another of Sihanouk's sons who has been politically active, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

The new king, who was also accompanied by his mother, former Queen Monineath, walked along a red carpet, bringing together his palms and bowing to his countrymen in a show of respect as a slow ballad played.

``I have been greatly honored by the Khmer people who have allowed me to continue this duty from my father,'' Sihamoni told reporters. ``I am extremely touched and I will do my utmost to serve the Khmer nation and people with all my abilities.''

Sihanouk said he had planned to travel to the ancient capital of Siem Reap

-- home to the Angkor Wat temple complex -- but ``my son said he would not feel warm without his father and mother near him, so he begged both of us to stay in his company here.''

The new king ``needs advice from me because he lacks experience. He needs us to explain to him about the state, national and international affairs. That's why he asked me to stay here for a while,'' Sihanouk told reporters.

Thousands of uniformed school children waving paper flags were gathered at the airport and lined a road leading to the Royal Palace in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, to welcome Sihamoni and his father.

``I am here to receive the god-king (Sihanouk) and the new king (Sihamoni),'' said 17-year-old Hong Sokchea, who stood in the hot sun at the airport.

In his first public statement a day after he was selected, Sihamoni -- a reluctant heir -- said he was concerned about successfully carrying out his duties ``due to my lack of experience,'' but pledged to serve ``from the depths of my heart'' and remain neutral in politics.

Sihamoni, 51, is a former ambassador to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris. He has no political experience and is better known for his skills as a ballet teacher.