PHNOM PENH — China has donated 88,000 boxes of traditional medicine Lianhua Qingwen Capsules to Cambodia to help treat COVID-19 patients in the Southeast Asian nation.

Lianhua Qingwen Capsules, a patented traditional Chinese medicine widely used in China to treat symptoms of COVID-19 patients, was on April 27 licensed by Cambodia's Ministry of Health for use.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian handed over the medicine to Cambodia's Health Minister Mam Bunheng on April 29 at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health in Phnom Penh.

The medicine was donated by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia through the Chinese embassy.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Bunheng expressed his profound thanks to China, saying that the medicine would help Cambodia fight against COVID-19.

"We're very happy to receive this traditional Chinese medicine," he said. "China's assistance including medical experts, medical equipment and supplies, a COVID-19 lab, and vaccines is essential for Cambodia to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 and to take care of our people's health."