Nurturing friendship - a bridge of lasting friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia

The Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association Conference was held in Tay Ninh province.

Speaking at the conference, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Tay Ninh province Nguyen Thanh Tam emphasized: "In the coming time, Tay Ninh will continue to promote the achieved results, do its best to contribute to strengthening and tightening the good neighborly relationship, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia in general and between Tay Ninh and Cambodian provinces".

Established in 2012, “Nurturing Friendship” of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association with more than 100 organizations, individuals and families in Vietnam volunteered to sponsor nearly 500 Cambodian students, contributing to “nurturing” sustainable and long-lasting friendship bridges between the people of the two countries.

Thon Bunheng, a PhD student at the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City, said he is one of the lucky Cambodian students to receive a scholarship sponsored by the Vietnamese Government and to study a highly specialized major with thorough training.

Thon Bunheng emphasized: “We learn Vietnamese, learn about Vietnamese history, culture, and customs, and from there learn professional knowledge and integrate with Vietnamese friends. This is a very precious and meaningful thing in my life. In particular, when we learn about history, we are more proud and remember the contributions of generations of leaders who have worked hard to cultivate the noble international friendship and solidarity between the two nations.

In particular, history has recorded the contributions of the Vietnamese army and people who fought side by side with Cambodia, helping Cambodia gain independence and freedom, and building the prosperous and beautiful Cambodia it is today.

Thon Bunheng proudly said that in addition to being supported by his “adoptive parents” with material and accommodation, he was also supported mentally. He felt as if he had his own parents by his side and was assured to study well. Thon Bunheng affirmed that after returning to his country, he would try to work well and actively foster the spirit of solidarity and international friendship between the two countries.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Trung (59 years old, residing in Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City), member of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association, is one of the Vietnamese people who sponsor two Cambodian students, Aing Kimhing and Vannak Dine, studying at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City. According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Trung, through taking care of the students, he wants to contributeto educating the children about the friendship between the two nations, thereby helping to beautify the friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Trung, a former Vietnamese volunteer soldier who performed international duties in Cambodia, is attached to the people here. Because of that sacred sentiment, when he is demobilized and lives in peacetime, he still wants to continue to contribute and foster the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship to always develop closely and closely.

Talking about this particularly meaningful “Nurturing Friendship” program, Mr. Le Tuan Khanh - Vice President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association said that in the 2023-2024 school year, the Association will sponsor 70 students and continue to coordinate with the Cambodian Embassy and Consulate General in Vietnam to sponsor 130 students. Of which, the majority are preparatory students studying Vietnamese, first-year and second-year students studying at 8 universities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Thai Binh Medical University.

Bridges help two countries and two peoples get closer together.

According to Mr. Khanh, the "Nurturing Friendship" program was born in the context of the strong development of solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in all fields, especially cooperation in the fields of education - training and human resource development.

From there, we will contribute to the Party and State in taking care of and helping Cambodian students studying in Vietnam to have the best learning conditions, so that after graduating and returning home, they will be an important human resource, actively participating in the construction and development of Cambodia, and at the same time be a bridge of long-term friendship between the two nations and peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Thereby, the good neighborly relationship, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia continues to be consolidated and enhanced, increasingly going into depth.

Speaking at the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Conference, Ms. Samdech Men Sam An - Vice President of the Cambodian People's Party, member of the Supreme Advisory Council of King Norodom Sihamoni, President of the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association thanked the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association for always helping the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association and helping the Cambodian people through humanitarian aid programs, especially helping Cambodian students studying in Vietnam, from helping them install hot water heaters for the winter, introducing godparents; creating conditions for Cambodian students to visit and have meals with their families... so that Cambodian students can study with peace of mind.

“I hope that the Friendship Associations of our two countries, the Friendship Associations of provinces and cities, especially the border provinces, will continue to cooperate to preserve the friendship between the people of the two countries and help each other prevent the distorted and provocative arguments of hostile forces, causing plots to divide the friendly relations between our two peoples,” said Ms. Samdech Men Sam An.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh - Deputy Head of the Central Organizing Committee, President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association said that the "Nurturing Friendship" program continues to receive enthusiastic participation from all levels of the Association, members and Cambodian students. After more than 10 years, the program has contributed to fostering the friendship between the two nations.

Phan Duong

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