THE People’s Republic of China will offer some 150 scholarships to Solomon Islands’ students over the next five years, starting next year.
At the same time, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Honiara, Ding Yonghua has revealed that the bilateral relations between China and Solomon Islands “has become a leading model for the relations between China and other Pacific Island countries.”
Mr Yonghua, announced the new intake at a farewell reception for 31 students who were awarded this year’s Chinese Scholarships last Thursday.
The Minister for Education and Human Resources Development, Tozen Leokana, attended the reception, which was held at the Chinese Embassy in Honiara on Thursday. The Minister also spoke at the brief ceremony.
“(This) event … is a testament to the friendship and cooperation between China and Solomon Islands. Over the past 5 years since China and SI established diplomatic ties, our bilateral relations have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development for the new era and has become a leading model for the relations between China and other Pacific Island countries,” he said.
“Education cooperation is an important part of China-SI relations. Over the past 5 years, China has sponsored hundreds of government officials and professionals for training in China and provided scholarships for around 160 young students to further study in China, which helped SI cultivate a large number of talents, and enhance SI ability to develop independently.
Minister Leokana signed the new MOU on education cooperation with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing last month.
“According to the MOU, the Chinese government will provide 30 new scholarships every year for the next 5 years, and this also laid a solid foundation for our future cooperation in the fields of student exchanges, inter-school cooperation, language education, and short-term training.
“I urge students in Solomon Islands to make good use of those good opportunities. I believe that, with the knowledge, vigor, and vitality of our youth, our two countries will have a better future, and the friendship between our two peoples will continue to flourish.”
In congratulating the 31 students, Mr. Ding told them that studying in China would be “a process to discover and understand China.”
“As we (have) just watched in the videos, China is a developing and prosperous country.
“Within the first half of this year, China’s GDP expanded by 5 per cent and reached USD8.49 trillion, continuing to be the second-largest economy and most important developing engine of the world,” he said.
“China is an ancient and modern country. We enjoy a consecutive civilization that lasts more than 5000 years. And based on that background, we are actively pursuing our modernization through a path with our own characteristics.
“China is also a diversified and harmonious country, where more than 56 ethnic groups live and work peacefully on this vast land, warmly welcoming friends from all over the world.”
There are two old Chinese sayings: “Seeing is believing” and “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.” To study in China, you need to travel an even longer distance, which can be full of interests. In a few days, you will embark on that journey, I wish you a safe trip and an enjoyable stay there.
“More importantly, I hope each of you fully embrace this opportunity to acquire as much knowledge as possible to broaden your horizons and make further contributions to Solomon Islands’ development and China-SI friendship and cooperation in the future.”
By Alfred Sasako
