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At the meeting. Photo: VNF

The VCFA held a meeting in Hanoi on December 26 to review the association’s performance in 2019 and plans for 2020.

Accordingly, in 2019, the VCFA organized the fifth meeting between Vietnamese sponsor families and Cambodian students in the framework of the “Nurturing the seeds of friendship” programme with the participation of 68 Cambodian students and Vietnamese sponsor families. Despite the difficulty in fundraising, with the active cooperation of sponsor families and the cooperation of the Cambodian Embassy in Vietnam and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, the programme has been expanded. Up to now, there are 300 Cambodian students receiving direct sponsorship by families in Hanoi.

In addition, many provinces and cities such as Thai Binh, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap and Tra Vinh have also implemented sponsorship programs for Cambodian students. Particularly, 132 Cambodian students who are studying in Ho Chi Minh City have been sponsored. The “Nurturing the seeds of friendship” programme continues to receive the support of a number of organizations and individuals.

The VCFA together with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Liaison Board of former Vietnamese experts assisting Cambodian revolution held a trip to Cambodia from March 19-25 for 80 former voluntary soldiers, experts and families of Vietnamese martyrs who laid down their lives on Cambodian battlefields.

On the occasion, the Vietnam - Cambodia Business Club under the VCFA, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Red Cross and Venerable Thich Truyen Tu, abbot of Huyen Trang Pagoda handed over 200 gifts, each worth VND 500,000 for disabled and elderly people in Svay Rieng province.

Over the past year, the Vietnam - Cambodia Business Club's Executive Board has also been very active in building and connecting religious establishments, businesses and donors to implement charitable work. In particular, the Association's Central Committee has called for all levels of the Association to support the overseas Vietnamese families affected by a fire which occurred in Phnom Penh, raising fund worth over VND 1 billion.

The Association also has focused on assisting provinces in developing its members and expand its operation, contributing to cementing the solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese and Cambodian people. Up to now, the VCFA has 42 Associations in the provinces, cities and 12 Associations directly under the Central Association.

Its Khmer language centre improved teaching quality and raised awareness of the friendship and solidarity of Vietnam and Cambodia via exchange events and visits by the two countries’ leaders.

In 2020 the Association will focus on a number of key tasks such as: events to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Southwest border defence war victory and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal regime, its 45th founding anniversary (1975-2020) and the fifth National Congress; organize an exchange trip for overseas students and families and embassy staff. The Association is planning to organize two seminars on the Association’s activities and collaborate with the Cambodian embassy and consulate general to review the “Nurturing the seeds of friendship” programme nationwide.

In November 2020, the Association will organize the fifth National Congress and implement its work after the Congress.

At the event, VUFO Vice President Phan Anh Son presented the Prime Minister’s certificates of merit to 53 individuals and 51 organisations in recognition of their active contributions to the Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year./.