Cambodia’s first Chinese education seminar held in Phnom Penh

China News Service, Phnom Penh, September 5 (Reporter Yang Qiang) Cambodia’s first Chinese education seminar was held in Phnom Penh on the 5th local time. Participants said that this is an important meeting in the history of the development of Chinese education in Cambodia, and it is also an important practice for cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds between China and Cambodia in the new era.

The seminar was co-sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and the Chinese Council of Cambodia. Zhao Haiyan, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, and Fang Qiaosheng, President of the Chinese Council of Cambodia, attended the seminar. Front-line Chinese education workers from all over Cambodia, as well as representatives from relevant Cambodian government departments who have long supported the development of Chinese education, leaders of Cambodian Chinese associations and friendly people from all walks of life, jointly discussed the path to sustainable development of Chinese schools.

On September 5, local time, Cambodia’s first Chinese education seminar was held in Phnom Penh. Photo by China News Service reporter Yang Qiang

In his speech, Fang Qiaosheng said that Chinese education in Cambodia has gone through a century of ups and downs and gradually resumed classes and schools in 1990 under the promotion of the Cambodian Chinese Council. Currently, there are 57 Chinese schools in Cambodia under the overall management of the Federation, with more than 50,000 students enrolled. While seeing the results of development, we must also note that some Chinese schools still face practical challenges such as a shortage of management talents, weak teachers, and insufficient funding for running schools.

Fang Qiaosheng put forward four development directions based on the current pain points in running schools: accelerating the transformation from a single Chinese language school to a Chinese-Cambodian bilingual school and deeply integrating into the Cambodian national education system; focusing on cultivating key management talents in Chinese schools and encouraging more Chinese young people to take over the relay and shoulder the development of Chinese education; continuing to strengthen the training of local teachers; extensively gathering forces from all walks of life to improve the overall school running conditions.

Zhao Haiyan fully affirmed the significant development achievements of Chinese education in Cambodia. He pointed out that Chinese has been officially included in the Cambodian national education system, and learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture has become a common practice in Cambodia. More and more Cambodian teenagers are taking the initiative to learn Chinese and love Chinese culture, injecting a steady stream of youthful vitality into the cause of friendship between the two countries, demonstrating the unique value and vitality of Chinese education.

In terms of promoting the high-quality and sustainable development of Chinese education in Cambodia in the new era, Zhao Haiyan put forward three hopes and initiatives: stick to the original intention of educating people and continue the cultural roots; persist in integrity and innovation to improve the quality and efficiency of running schools; accumulate local strength and consolidate the foundation of Chinese education. He said that the Chinese Embassy will continue to promote practical cooperation in the field of education between the two countries, actively implement various cooperation consensuses, and fully protect the steady and long-term development of Chinese education.

Counselor Wu Xiaofeng and Consul Liu Zhaoxing of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia attended the seminar. During the exchange session, representatives from Chinese schools across Cambodia conducted in-depth discussions focusing on the sustainable development of Chinese education in the new era, and shared experiences and suggestions based on school running practices. (over)