China News Service, Phnom Penh, March 1
: How can private power promote the development of relations between Cambodia and China?
——Exclusive interview with Chairman of Cambodia-China Friendship Association Eisenwo
Author Yang Qiang Li Haiyue
China and Cambodia have a long-standing traditional friendship, and the civil societies of the two countries have long maintained friendly exchanges and cooperation, promoting the continuous deepening of the "iron" friendship.
2024 is the "Year of People-to-People Exchanges between China and Cambodia", which brings new opportunities for people-to-people exchanges between China and Cambodia.
What role does civil society play in the development of China-Cambodia relations?
How to promote people-to-people bonds between the two countries through people-to-people exchanges?
Facing the current complex international environment, how can China and Cambodia further consolidate and deepen their friendship and achieve win-win development?
Chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, Aisenwo, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" to interpret the historical origins of China-Cambodia relations from multiple dimensions.
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
Reporter from China News Service: What is the historical background of the establishment of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association?
Eisenwo:
The Cambodia-China Friendship Association was established in 2000 at the initiative of the then Prime Minister of Cambodia, Prince Hun Sen. It aims to promote friendly people-to-people exchanges between Cambodia and China and consolidate the deep and long-standing traditional friendship between the two countries.
From 2000 to 2013, Princess Norodom Praphadevi served as the chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association.
On May 3, 2013, upon the proposal of the then Prime Minister of Cambodia, Prince Hun Sen, the Cambodia-China Friendship Association underwent internal adjustments and I was appointed as the chairman. The association established 8 members of the Standing Committee and 56 members of the Executive Committee.
This round of organizational reorganization has injected new vitality into the development of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association to better fulfill its important mission of promoting people-to-people exchanges and deepening traditional friendship between the two countries.
On December 8, 2022, the "Open-Air Cinema - The Sixth China-Cambodia Excellent Film Tour" event jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Art, and the China-Cambodia Friendship Channel was officially launched in Phnom Penh.
The picture shows Aisenwo, member of the Central Standing Committee of the Cambodian People's Party and chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, speaking at the launching ceremony.
Photo by Yu Xiangjun
China News Service reporter: What role does the Cambodia-China Friendship Association play in the historical process of friendly exchanges and exchanges between the two countries? How does it promote people-to-people bonds between the two countries through practice?
Eisenwo:
The Cambodia-China Friendship Association is a museum and archives that preserves and collects many valuable historical documents and materials such as documents, books and images that have witnessed the relationship between Cambodia and China since ancient times. It provides a deep understanding of the friendly relations between the two countries from ancient times to the present. Provide reliable basis for continuous development.
At the same time, it is also a platform to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries. By participating in multi-level regional and global forum exchange activities, it promotes the construction of a community with a shared future between Cambodia and China in the new era and spreads the story of the "iron" friendship between the two countries.
In 2006, the Cambodia-China Friendship Association participated in initiating the China-ASEAN Non-Governmental Friendship Organizations Conference and worked together to enhance friendly relations between peoples of all countries.
Since 2014, the conference has been upgraded to the China-ASEAN People-to-People Friendship Conference.
In August 2017, the 11th China-ASEAN People-to-People Friendship Conference was successfully held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with the theme of "Strengthening People-to-People Connectivity and Maintaining Peace and Cooperation".
The Cambodia-China Friendship Association has become an important bridge for people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Cambodia and other ASEAN countries.
On September 18, 2014, the 9th China-ASEAN People-to-People Friendship Conference kicked off in Chengdu.
Aisenwo, Chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, delivered a speech.
Photo by Anyuan
In addition, the Cambodia-China Friendship Association also serves as a teaching and research center and a think tank platform where many experts, scholars, researchers and analysts gather. It is committed to researching, analyzing and translating relevant policy materials related to Cambodia-China relations, and Share and disseminate in various forms to help people understand Cambodia and China more comprehensively, deeply and objectively.
China News Service reporter: What is the origin and foundation of the "iron" friendship between China and Cambodia? Why is the traditional friendship between China and Cambodia a model for a new type of international relations?
Eisenwo:
People-to-people exchanges between Cambodia and China have a long history of more than 2,000 years.
In Chinese historical books, Cambodia was once called Funan, and later was named Chenla. Records in ancient Chinese books highlight the close ties between the two countries since ancient times.
This spiritual bond of good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers has enabled the friendly cooperation between Cambodia and China to continue to deepen over the long history.
The "iron friend" relationship between Cambodia and China has accelerated the construction of a community with a shared future between Cambodia and China as well as China and ASEAN.
As a friend and partner, Cambodia has always been committed to becoming a bridge for cooperation between China and ASEAN and creating favorable conditions for regional peace and stability.
At the same time, the good relations between the two countries also have a positive impact on regional cooperation and make significant contributions to promoting regional prosperity and development.
In July 2017, the fourth event of China Hainan Cambodia Light Tour was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association Ai Senwo removed the gauze for postoperative patients.
During this event, a free medical clinic team composed of medical staff from HNA Education and Medical and Hainan Eye Hospital performed sight-restoring surgeries on 172 local Cambodian patients.
Photo by Hong Jianpeng
China News Service reporter: You have visited China many times. What experiences or knowledge have left a particularly deep impression on you? How do you view China’s development and changes?
Eisenwall:
Over the past many years, I have visited China dozens of times, including official visits and personal visits.
I think China is a very safe and peaceful country.
Benefiting from this, all Chinese people can live and work in peace and contentment, which has also given many foreigners more confidence in living, working, doing business and traveling in China.
As the world's second largest economy, China's development achievements are remarkable and it has strong motivation to attract foreign investors while injecting new vitality into the world economy.
China has also made remarkable achievements in promoting ecological civilization construction and green and low-carbon development.
The Chinese government actively advocates the construction of a beautiful world in which humans and nature coexist harmoniously, and contributes to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
China's fruitful achievements in many fields such as economic, social and ecological construction have not only benefited the Chinese people, but also provided lessons for other countries around the world, demonstrating China's active role on the global political stage.
On March 18, 2023, Haikou’s 2023 “Cambodia National Day” theme promotion event was held in Qilou Old Street, Haikou, Hainan, China.
Photo by Luo Yunfei
Reporter from China News Service: 2024 is the "Year of Cultural Exchanges between China and Cambodia". What plans and arrangements does the Cambodia-China Friendship Association have?
Eisenwo:
2024 is the "Year of People-to-People Exchanges between Cambodia and China". The Cambodia-China Friendship Association will host or actively participate in a series of major activities covering multiple fields.
In the field of cultural exchanges, the association plans to conduct research on the historical context of Cambodia-China relations, and study the history of Cambodia-China Buddhist relations and the history of the Chinese Yuan Dynasty envoy Zhou Daguan’s trip to Chenla.
In the field of non-governmental exchanges, the Association will participate in the China-ASEAN Non-Governmental Friendship Organization Leaders’ Meeting and jointly organize relevant activities with various provinces and cities in China.
In the field of youth exchanges, the association will actively participate in a series of activities such as the China-ASEAN Youth Forum, China-ASEAN Youth Elite Exchange Festival, and China International Youth Art Week.
Cooperate with the Overseas Student Management Group of the "Prince and Mrs. Hun Sen Scholarship Association" (AMT) to provide Chinese training services for Cambodian students who intend to study in China.
In September 2023, at the 20th China-ASEAN Expo held in Nanning, Guangxi, Cambodian actors performed national customs songs and dances.
Photo by Yu Xiangquan
Young people are the future successors of the country and an important force in promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations.
The Cambodia-China Friendship Association will be committed to promoting Cambodian youth to participate in China-related exchange and study projects. These cross-cultural activities will help the youth of the two countries learn from each other and share experiences, enhance their understanding of each other's culture, economy and society, and contribute to the development of bilateral relations. Cultivate more new forces.
(over)
Interviewee profile:
Eisenwo, consultant to the Royal Government of Cambodia, member of the Central Standing Committee and Chairman of the Central Supervisory Committee of the ruling People’s Party of Cambodia, and chairman of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association.