Former King Offers Money to Quake-Hit China

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
14 May 2008

Former king Norodom Sihanouk presented $50,000 to Chinese authorities Wednesday, to help the country as it struggles in the wake of a devastating earthquake.

The money and two sympathy letters were delivered to Chinese Ambassador Zang Jinfeng, said Prince Sisowath Thomico, a former adviser to the king.

Thousands have died in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that shook southwestern China Monday. Tens of thousands are still missing.

The donation comes after Cambodia gave $50,000 to cyclone-struck Burma last week.

Royal family of Cambodia supports China's quake-relief works

King-Father and Chairman Mao in 1964 (Photo: NorodomSihanouk.info)

PHNOM PENH, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A deputy of the royal family of Cambodia on Tuesday presented 50,000 U.S. dollars and two letters of sympathy to the Chinese Embassy to express the family's support for China to carry out relief works in the earthquake-affected areas.

King Norodom Sihamoni and king's father Norodom Sihanouk respectively wrote letters to Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to express their sympathy for the victims and their families, as well as their support for the Chinese government to salvage the survivors, said a press release from the embassy.

Meanwhile, Sihanouk donated 50,000 U.S. dollars for China to beef up its relief works, it said.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jinfeng expressed deep gratitude to the royal family and informed the deputy about the current situation in the disaster-affected region.

A 7.8-magnitude quake rocked Wenchuan county, 159 km northwest of the southwest Sichuan province's capital of Chengdu, at 14:28 (0628 GMT) on Monday, killing thousands of people in eight affected provinces.

King-Father donates $50,000 to China

Former Cambodian King donates to China for snow disasters relief

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk on Thursday donated 50,000 U.S. dollars to China for disasters relief in snow stricken areas, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry here Friday.

Sihanouk expressed his condolence for Chinese people in a letter to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and made the donation to China's humanitarian institution under his name.

China has been threatened by heavy snow that has fallen since mid-January, the worst in five decades.

The severe weather had killed 38 people and resulted in the direct economic loss of 32.67 billion yuan (4.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 17 provinces, regions, and municipalities by Wednesday afternoon, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.