By Tan Xingyu

Let the Brightness Shine

By Tan Xingyu

Qin Jing (first from right, back row), wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, and Chen Shi (second from right, back row), deputy editor-in-chief of CIPG, present school supplies to teachers and students of Norodom Primary School.

On Oct. 12, 2016, ahead of his state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chinese President Xi Jinping published a signed article, “China and Cambodia: Good Neighbors and Trusted Friends”, in the leading Cambodian newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea, stressing “China and Cambodia enjoy flourishing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, which have added strong momentum to the growth of their relations”.

China has a long history of friendly relations with Cambodia, and the various charitable projects that Chinese philanthropic organizations have carried out in Cambodia in recent years have brought new vitality to people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Over the past several years, Cambodia has witnessed rapid social and economic development. On July 1, 2016, the World Bank officially revised the status of Cambodia’s economy, upgrading it from a least-developed country (LDC) to a lower-middle-income territory. Cambodia thus shares its new status with 51 other economies, including India, Vietnam and the Philippines. Earlier, the World Bank projected Cambodia’s per capita national income would increase from US$1,020 in 2014 to US$1,096 in 2015.

Even so, Cambodia’s overall economic development level remains relatively low, and there is still plenty of room for improving people’s living standards. The eradication of poverty, diseases and illiteracy depends upon economic growth, but meanwhile, care and support from all walks of life can play an equally important role. Recently, two charitable campaigns, both themed on “brightness”, garnered wide acclaim from all circles of Cambodian society.

Illuminating Children’s Growth Path

“Thank you for the gifts [from China]!” said the principal of the Norodom Primary School with excitement upon the arrival of a large heap of schoolbags and writing materials at his school.

Norodom Primary School, on Norodom Boulevard in Phnom Penh,

has a long history and is the alma mater of many notable public figures in Cambodia. On Oct. 11, “Brightness & Books”, a donation activity organized by Chinese philanthropists, took place here.

“Brightness & Books” was sponsored by China International Publishing Group (CIPG), aiming to allow the illuminating nature of books to grace the lives of more Cambodian schoolchildren by donating schoolbags, writing materials, children’s books and solar desk lamps to several Cambodian schools. According to Chen Shi, deputy editor-in-chief of CIPG, this campaign was initiated and orchestrated in light of the actual situation of Cambodia, and the gifts were carefully selected to meet the needs of the children.

When addressing the donation ceremony, Chen, on behalf of CIPG, extended the Chinese people’s friendship and good wishes to Cambodian children, while expressing her hopes that these efforts could bring convenience to the children’s study and growth. In addition to school supplies, the organizers specially selected a type of solar desk lamp, which, charged by solar energy, can free the children from power supply restrictions and enable them to read and write in the evening, thus illuminating the path of their growth.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was Qin Jing, wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, who presented other gift bags to the principal, teachers and students of Norodom Primary School. The principal spoke highly of the gifts, which he said carried with them the Chinese people’s deep care for their Cambodian neighbors, and expressed his heartfelt appreciation to CIPG for its philanthropic efforts.

Afterwards, the CIPG delegation took their donations to Aknuwat Primary School, where they again received a warm welcome. The school’s headmaster said that they expected more people with loving intentions to lend a hand to Cambodia’s educational development and help them produce even more talented professionals.

Seeing the World Clearly Again

In the meantime, another brightness-themed charitable campaign was also rolled out in Cambodia.

Cambodia is located in a tropical zone, and a higher incidence of cataracts has been found among its people as a result of prolonged exposure to strong ultraviolet rays. This July, when meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during a visit to Cambodia, Luo Baoming, secretary of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee, proposed carrying out a “Brightness Action”campaign in Cambodia, with an aim to provide free cataract operations to local patients. The prime minister actively responded to the proposal. Soon after, the provincial government of Hainan established a leading group, and the campaign was launched.

In early September, at a hospital of Kampong Cham Province in eastern Cambodia, 13 ophthalmologists from China conducted preoperative screening for 800 Cambodian citizens with eye problems and provided free cataract removal surgeries for 153 patients. Hailing from Beijing, Hainan and Shaanxi, the doctors were all high level experts in ophthalmology, with a wealth of experience in cataract surgery. It was their superb skills, as well as other medical support, that allowed the patients to see clearly again.

On Oct. 10, 2016, a medical team sent by the provincial government of Hainan, China, conducts preoperative screening for Cambodian citizens with eye problems in Kampong Cham Province. Patients requiring an operation will be provided with free cataract removal surgery.

In view of the good curative effects, and under the urgent demand of Cambodian patients, the second phase of medical treatment began ahead of schedule. All the procedures from contacting doctors, volunteers and hospitals to arranging operating rooms, conducting preoperative screening and making preparations for surgery were completed in less than a week.

“I previously participated in similar activities in countries in Africa and the South Pacific, but the Cambodian people’s earnest anticipation and active response were unmatched,” said Hao Yansheng, the chief surgeon. This was not only because the treatment fee (at least US$1,000) would otherwise be a heavy burden for them, but also because they trust Chinese doctors’ skills and services. Each factor related to the surgery, including personnel, equipment, apparatuses, medicine, screening and medical records, was arranged in a meticulous and deliberate manner. After their service in the charitable campaign, two sets of various medical equipment worth 5 million yuan (US$740,000) each will be donated to hospitals in Kampong Cham and Siem Reap provinces.

The “Hainan-Cambodia Brightness Action” program has earned high praise from both the governments and people of the two countries. In his signed article, President Xi also fully recognized the campaign. Throughout the process, both the Cambodian central government and the government of Kampong Cham Province rendered great support. The hospital of Kampong Cham Province offered operating rooms and other assistance as quickly as possible, and tens of volunteers came to the hospital to assist the medical staff, including an old man of Chinese descent who, in his 70s, traveled all the way from Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham.

According to program plans, the“Hainan-Cambodia Brightness Action”aims to raise 20 million yuan (US$3 million) by December 2018, and the fund will be used to provide 1,000 free surgeries to Cambodian cataract patients.