From March 19 to 22, a Shenzhen delegation headed by professor Tao Yitao embarked on a visit to Cambodia at the invitation of the Civil Society Alliance Forum (CSAF) of Cambodia on a mission to celebrate the 2nd session of “Lancang-Mekong Week” with a string of “Shenzhen x Lancang-Mekong Initiative” events. Prof. Tao is the director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR) of SZU, dean of the “Belt and Road” Institute of SZU, dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation (BRRIIC), and vice chairperson of Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC). The delegation was composed of Shenzhen Foundation’s Secretariat Department, Yupengnian Charity Foundation, a Shenzhen-based company D.Light, and alumni young entrepreneurs from Shenzhen University (SZU).
On the afternoon of March 20, arranged by the Prime Minister’s Office of Cambodia, H.E. Yim Chhay Ly, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) met all members of the young entrepreneur delegation of Shenzhen University headed by Prof. Tao Yitao and Huang Shun, the chairman of the Alumni Association of Shenzhen University. Accompanying the delegation were major officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and CARD.
Director Tao Yitao (left) and H.E. Yim Chhay Ly (right), Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the CARD
A scene of the meeting
Group photo of H.E. Yim Chhay Ly, Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the CARD and Prof. Tao’s delegation
H.E. Yim Chhay Ly, on behalf of the Cambodian government, gave a roaring welcome to the delegation headed by Prof. Tao and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the delegation for their charitable donation to Cambodia. Mr. Yim Chhay Ly introduced the status quo on and challenges facing the agricultural development of Cambodia, and the latest exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in agricultural water conservancy, talent, education and culture.
In the meeting, Prof. Tao Yitao introduced to Mr. Yim Chhay Ly the development history of SZU and the background and achievements of the enterprises of major members from the alumni young entrepreneur delegation of SZU. Then she said that to fuel the modernization and IT-based management of agriculture in Cambodia, the delegation will donate 100 Lenovo laptops to the Prime Minister's Office and the CARD. This charity visit reflects the friendship, people-to-people bonds and cultural connectivity between China and Cambodia. Education is the foundation of a country's progress and the future of a nation. By donating 100 laptops for the primary and middle school students in Cambodia, the delegation hopes to provide teenagers in Cambodia access to modern science and technology.
Two sides are signing the donation agreement
H.E. Yim Chhay Ly expressed sincere thanks to the generous donation by the alumni young entrepreneurs of SZU, and he believed that such donation would help the Cambodian government improve its management efficiency and modernize its management. He particularly expressed his deep admiration at the multitude of outstanding alumni entrepreneurs with international clout fostered by SZU that has a history of only 36 years. He requested SZU to open up more enrollment spaces for Cambodian youths to study abroad.
Prof. Tao and her delegation
After the meeting, Huang Shun, the chairman of the Alumni Association of Shenzhen University and deputy head of the delegation, signed a donation agreement with Cambodia. This meeting laid a solid foundation for the cooperation of the two sides on charity, talent exchange, and business investment.
