Several Cambodian children who previously underwent life-saving surgery for congenital heart disease in Yunnan have returned to the province as part of the China-Cambodia "Love Heart Journey" program, local outlet Yunnan.cn reported.

Their visit began at Yunnan Fuwai Cardiovascular Disease Hospital, where many of them had received treatment. For 19-year-old Dou Tang, the return was emotional. When he stood before the medical team that had operated on him, the staff did not immediately recognize the energetic university student as the frail boy with purple lips who once struggled to walk. Only after he showed them an old photograph did the room light up, according to the report.

Dou is among more than 120 Cambodian children who have received free treatment at the hospital under the aid initiative. Most of the children treated through the program come from rural areas, and many arrived in Yunnan feeling anxious and fearful.

According to Yang Lihua, director of the Kunming Yundi Behavior and Health Research Center and one of the project's main organizers, the latest visit was designed to help them reconnect with the wards where they recovered, meet the doctors who cared for them, and experience everyday life in Yunnan. "We wanted them to feel the warmth and hospitality here," she said.

Lu Jiang, assistant to the president of Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital, recalled one young Cambodian patient who said she hoped to become a doctor herself so she could help others in the future.

Chea Munyrith, president of the Chinese Cambodian Evolution Researcher Association, told China Daily that these little patients felt the Chinese doctors treated them like family, inspiring many to start learning Mandarin.

After returning to Cambodia, they shared their treatment experiences with locals, helping more people understand how China has helped Cambodian children, he added.

Launched in January 2018, the China-aided project aimed to provide 150 Cambodian children who have CHD with free surgery or treatment at the Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.