CHINESE MINE-CLEARING EQUIPMENT IN CAMBODIA

Wang Wentian (front right), Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, and Ly Thuch(front left), first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority, check mine-clearance equipment in Phnom Penh,Cambodia, on June 24.

China donated mine-clearance equipment,vans and motorcycles to the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) on June 24.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian expressed hope that the donation would help reduce landmines and unexploded ordnance(UXO) casualties in Cambodia, reiterating China's commitment to help Cambodia eliminate all types of mines and explosive remnants of war by 2025.The Chinese government has provided demining assistance and training courses to more than 40 countries across the globe, he added.

Cambodia is one of the most landmineaffected countries in the world. An estimated 4 to 6 million landmines and other munitions were left over from nearly three decades of war that ended in 1998.

According to a government report, landmine and UXO explosions killed 19,776 people and caused serious injury including those requiring amputation to 45,049 others from 1979 to April 2019.

CMAA's First Vice-President Ly Thuch expressed profound gratitude to China for providing mine-clearance assistance to Cambodia. He noted that Cambodia has cleared mines and UXOs from area of 1,869 square kilometers, destroying 1.07 million anti-personnel mines, 24,925 anti-tank mines, and 2.79 million explosive remnants of war.

“China's aid is crucial to save lives of Cambodian people who are living under threat of landmines and UXOs,” he remarked.

“To achieve the target of mine-free Cambodia by 2025, China's continued support is very important,” he added.