Shen Yueyue, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Visits Confucius Institute at Royal Academy of Cambodia

On May 6th, accompanied by Sivan Botum, State Secretary of the Cambodian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Xiong Bo, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia and Xia Jie, Vice-President of the ACWF, Shen Yueyue, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and President of the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) visited the Confucius Institute at Royal Academy of Cambodia (CIRAC). Khlot Thyda, President of Royal Academy of Cambodia and Council Director of the CIRAC, Chea Munyrit, Foreign Director of the CIRAC, and Xia Xiulong, Chinese Director of the CIRAC led the teachers and students of the Confucius Institute to give a warm welcome to Shen Yueyue and her delegation.

At the symposium, Shen Yueyue highly praised the efforts made by the Confucius Institute in promoting Chinese culture, and expressed her heartfelt thanks to the teachers for their dedication to the China-Cambodia cultural exchanges. She said that it’s a great pleasure to meet with everyone here as soon as she got off the plane. With the care of the leaders of the two countries, the Confucius Institute has been growing, and made great efforts in promoting China-Cambodia exchanges and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples. It has become a bridge for further development of bilateral friendship, deserving praises and congratulations. Shen Yueyue encouraged the teachers and students of the institute to play a positive role in making new contributions to the “Belt and Road” initiative and hoped that everyone will work together for the development and improvement of China-Cambodian friendship.

Shen Yueyue delivering a speech

Khlot Thyda thanked Shen Yueyue for visiting the CIRAC and introduced the major achievements of the Confucius Institute since its establishment in 2009 as well as the current situation of each teaching site. She said that China and Cambodia have long been in friendly relations, and the exchanges between the two countries have become deeper. The Confucius Institute has become an important platform for people-to-people bonds and exchanges between the two countries. The Chinese government cultivated a host of cultural and technological talents and provided massive assistance for Cambodia, playing a crucial part in Cambodia’s development.

Khlot Thyda addressing a welcome speech

Shen Yueyue presenting the souvenirs

The visit coincides with the preliminary round of the 10th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Cambodia. Shen Yueyue watched with great interest to the speeches by Li Xiangying, Deng Cailing and Guo Jinjiang, whose excellent performances fully demonstrated their solid foundation of Chinese learning.

Shen Yueyue watching the “Chinese Bridge” Competition

Later, Shen Yueyue was showed around the CIRAC. In the electronic library, Shen Yueyue listened to the introduction of Chea Munyrith and had a warm conversation with Song Wenquan, a student who is learning Chinese by himself at a computer. She encouraged Song Wenquan to learn Chinese well so as to further study in China. In the Chinese class of Department of Chinese Studies of the Confucius Institute’s Asia Euro University, Shen Yueyue listened to Ms. Hu Shefang’s lectures carefully. The frequent interactions between the teachers and students and as well as active atmosphere left her and her delegation a deep impression.

Shen Yueyue visiting the Confucius Institute

Shen Yueyue warmly talking with students

Shen Yueyue attending a class

At the invitation of the Cambodian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Shen Yueyue led the Chinese women delegation to visit Cambodia. Its first stop is the CIRAC, which much encouraged the teachers and students there. They promised to make great endeavors to fulfill their mission and contribute their new bit to the promotion of Chinese language and the China-Cambodian cultural exchanges.

Story by Huang Shu; Photos by Yang Qingshan & Zhang Yun