Supportive efforts
A handful of people’s violation of rules has set back Cambodia’s anti- virus prevention efforts. Their behavior has been condemned by both Cambodians and Chinese citizens.
The actions not only brought great challenges to Cambodia’s pandemic prevention work, but are also suspected of violating relevant local laws, said the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia after the event.
“The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia strongly urges Chinese citizens in Cambodia to strictly abide by the Cambodian government’s pandemic prevention regulations, and cooperate with the Cambodian health authorities,” read a statement issued by the embassy, noting that citizens must not withhold information or abscond if they display COVID- 19 symptoms.
Chinese observers believe that the latest virus outbreak won’t adversely affect the Sino- Cambodian relationship. “Neither COVID- 19 nor anti- China forces behind it can prevent our friendly ties from moving forward,” Zhang Zhenjiang told the Global
Times.
Moreover, the two countries have continued to support each other during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China in February 2020, when China was hardest hit by the virus.
The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia announced on February 23 that the embassy urgently donated 100,000 medical facial masks to Phnom Penh government to aid in the fight against the third community outbreak.
In early February, China delivered the first batch of 600,000 doses of Sinopharm’s COVID- 19 vaccine to Cambodia.
Cambodian authorities have authorized the emergency use of Sinopharm CO
VID- 19 vaccine in the country, noting that “the vaccine is used safely in China and other countries.”