Zhang Yong, principal of Siem Reap Public Zhongshan School in Cambodia, reflects on the school's long journey in Chinese education. Founded in the 1930s to promote Chinese culture and named in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the school was forced to close in 1970 along with all other Chinese schools in Cambodia. It reopened in 1995 with just over 100 students and later reached a peak enrollment of nearly 4,000.
"We do not set age limit for admission," Zhang says. "Students are placed in classes based on their Chinese proficiency. No matter how old you are, if you have no prior knowledge of Chinese, you start in Grade One." He adds, "As long as you're willing to come here, it does not matter what race you are or where your ancestral home is. It's all OK." According to incomplete statistics cited by Zhang, people of Chaoshan descent probably account for nearly 70 percent of the Chinese community there.
Zhang also talks about the changes in his hometown, which he visits often. "Today I saw things like robots and stringless electric guitars. These really are high-tech. I would say China today is no longer the China it used to be. I'm happy for our motherland."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Videographers: Pan Jiajun
Video editor: Pan Jiajun
