Chinese President Xi's book on governance captivates Cambodian readers

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 2 -- Hundreds of Cambodian students, academics and senior officials on Monday attended the launching ceremony of a book written by Chinese President Xi Jinping on governance.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An and Chinese Ambassador Bu Jianguo presided over the launching ceremony of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China." at the Friendship Building.

Released in September last year, the book, comprised of 79 speeches delivered by Xi between November 2012 and June 2014, offered insights of the Chinese leader on political issues and administration of a country. It also includes 45 photos of Xi.

Sok An said the launching of the book was aimed at providing Cambodians deeper understanding and knowledge of the Chinese leader and his ideas on governance.

"The book has reflected Xi's strong commitment and efforts toward deeper reform on governance," he said at the ceremony. "It will enable the world to better understand China's development, domestic and foreign policies, and response to the concerns of international community."

The book was published in nine languages: Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese.

According to Sok An, the Khmer version of the book will be available in Cambodia very soon as the Royal Academy of Cambodia is planning to translate the book into Khmer language.

Ambassador Bu said the book has comprehensively and systematically given answers to major theoretical and practical questions on China's development in these changing times, and also has embodied the Chinese leader's philosophy and strategy of governance.

"This book is a window for the international society to get access to the contemporary China and a key to the answers of issues concerning China," she said.

About 3.17 million books, including 2.95 million Chinese version copies and 225,000 copies in foreign languages, had been sold worldwide, making it one of the Chinese best-sellers in the international book markets, she said.

"It is believed that this book will provide useful knowledge for the Cambodian friends who are thinking of and exploring on China's successful story of economic and social development," the ambassador said.

Soeung Reth, a lecturer at the Royal School of Administration, said, "Xi's capable leadership, in combination with competent human capital, will lead China to a more prosperous society."

Chea Chheng, a student at the Royal School of Administration, said the book was useful for students, especially academics and policy makers, to better understand the Chinese governing policy and Xi's position on key issues.

"Xi's remarks on governance should be a model for countries to follow," he said, adding that he was interested in the book because he wanted to better understand China's development and foreign policy toward its neighbors.