1st mass gathering of Chinese-language students in Cambodia in more than 4 decades

 PHNOM PENH, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 3,500 Chinese-language students in all generations in Cambodia gathered  here these days to recall their past memory and to re-create close relations among each other.  
  These students come from all around the world. Pung Khieu Se, an economic advisor to Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen,  said at the opening of the gathering Tuesdy night that it was a good opportunity for Chinese-language students in Cambodia to  meet and share their good and bad experience in their lives.
  He recalled that due to the wars, all Chinese schools in Cambodia was closed in 1970 and Chinese students here had scattered,  some stayed in the country and the others left the country to live in other countries.
  Until 1990, the government of Cambodia allowed Chinese language schools to open again.
  “Today’s mass gathering is the first time in more than four decades,” he said. “The event also reflects unbreakable solidarity  and relation among Chinese-blood Cambodians.”
  Speaking at the gathering, visiting Ge Zhen Feng, vice-chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission of the Chinese  National People’s Congress, estimated that there are about 700,000 Chinese-blood descendants living in Cambodia and they are  the core forces to strengthen and expand good traditional relations between China and Cambodia.
  “I am here to encourage all of you to continue your efforts to build closer relationship between China and Cambodia and to  help Cambodia in its efforts to develop the nation,” he said.
  Meanwhile, Duong Chhiv, the president of the Association of Khmer-Chinese in Cambodia, which organized the event, said  that the association had invited former Chinese language students in Cambodia in all generations from China, Hong Kong,  Australia, the United States, Canada, and France to join the mass gathering.
  He added that currently, the country has 55 Chinese schools with more than 35,000 students.
  Since the re-opening of Chinese schools in Cambodia, more than 100,000 Chinese language students have graduated.
  The three-day event was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue.