Cambodian students and their sponsors at the event. Photo: VUFO

The event attended by Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO); Vu Mao, President of Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA); Op Sophy, Charge D'affaires Embassy of Cambodia in Vietnam with the participation of 68 Cambodian students and Vietnamese sponsor families.

Speaking at the meeting, VCFA President Vu Mao praised the initiative to find sponsor families for Cambodian students in Vietnam.

Starting from the idea of helping Cambodian students in Vietnam, the programme was officially launched in 2012.

Recalling the memories of the movement, he said the idea of starting the movement began to take root in 2011, when former VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong and him agreed that VCFA should support the Cambodian students in Vietnam.

The idea was multiplied into a movement and formally launched under the name of "Nurturing the seeds of friendship" in February 2012.

Initiated in Hanoi, the programme has come to other localities like the northern province of Thai Binh and Ho Chi Minh City, he said.

Not only families whose members were volunteer soldiers in Cambodia but other families have also registered for sponsoring the students, according to the official.

True to its name, the programme is step by step nurturing the seeds that make the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia grow in depth with higher efficiency.

In his remarks, Charge D'affaires Op Sophy highlighted the fine relations between the Vietnamese and Cambodian Parties, States, Governments and peoples; appreciating the great contribution of VCFA, led by President Vu Mao with practical initiative "Nurturing the seeds of friendship".

According to him, the sponsorship has helped the Cambodian students understand more about the language and traditional culture of Vietnam, expressing his hope that the programme will contribute to preserving and enhancing the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

Mao Leapheng, a second-year student at the National Economics University, thanked VCFA and sponsoring families for their care for Cambodian students; expressing his happiness and excitement to meet his foster family.

He stressed that with many Cambodian students have received enthusiastic supports and sponsors from the programme. They have received optimal conditions to study and live, he added.

Mao Leapheng, on behalf of Cambodian students studying in Vietnam, promised to try hard to study and train themselves; and will bring the knowledge learned in Vietnam as well as affections received from Vietnamese people to make contributions to Cambodia's socio-economic development and to continue preserving and promoting the long-standing friendship between the two countries./.

VNF