Feature: Xi's book captures Cambodian youth's heart

PHNOM PENH -- Long Daneat, a 23-year-old Cambodian student majoring food science and engineering in a Chinese university, was very excited after receiving the three-volume book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" from Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian weeks ago.

The third-year university student at Jiangnan University in Wuxi city, East China's Jiangsu province, had his mind set on the book in April 2017 when he saw Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen launched the book's Khmer version.

At present, Daneat stays in Cambodia and has studied online for one and a half years since January 2020.

But the pandemic didn't hold back the young man's eagerness for the book.

"China's successful experience in fighting against COVID-19 is a testament of the efficiency and advantages of the Chinese way of governance. I really want to know more about it," he said.

The book is a three-volume collection of speeches and writings by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

News of the publication of the book's third volume last year aroused his thirst for better understanding of the governance of China. However, it was not easy to acquire the latest issue here in Cambodia, because many book stores were closed.

"I sent a message to the Chinese embassy on Facebook to ask for a copy of the book," said Daneat. "I know they must be very busy, but I wanted to give it a try."

His endeavors paid off on May 31 when the Chinese ambassador provided him the book upon his request.

"To my surprise, Ambassador Wang replied to me very fast and offered me five books: three Chinese version volumes, one Khmer version book and one English version book."

"I feel very excited to get the book because I have never expected that the ambassador would reply to me since I'm just a student," he said. "I really appreciate his humbleness and kindness."

Daneat said he was keen to read the book since he first heard of it, because he wanted to learn about Xi's thoughts and strategies on governance, the Chinese Dream, roadmaps for long-run development and promoting a sense of a community with a shared future for mankind.

He said that he has finished 63 pages of the book so far, and what impressed him the most was Xi's aspiration to bring a better life for the Chinese people.

"This book really caught my interest because it was written by a revered leader, who has a long-term and clear vision to build a prosperous China," he said. "This book is a really great book that taught great lessons from experiences, and many of Cambodian government officials have admired and recommended it to youth to read."

Daneat said he had lived in China for two and a half years and loved his life there very much, adding that he would use the book to learn better about China.

"It is a meaningful gift for me and I will see it as one of my most valuable things," he said, adding that he will share good thoughts in these books with his classmates when he finishes reading all of them.

Talking about the quick response to Daneat's need, Wang told Xinhua that he hopes Daneat will work hard in learning Chinese to better understand the Chinese culture and introduce the splendid Cambodian culture to his Chinese friends.

"I hope that Daneat can grow to be a bridge for the mutual learning between Chinese and Cambodian cultures and a successor of China-Cambodia friendship," said Wang.