Ceremony for scholarship recipients to study in the People’s Republic of China Featured
Distinguished Guests, Scholarship Recipients, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my privilege to be here this evening on the occasion of the reception for the Tongan nationals who have been successfully awarded a Scholarship to study in the People’s Republic of China.
May I take this opportunity to convey to you once again, Your Excellency, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the children of Tonga our heartfelt gratitude for your Government’s continuing generous assistance for Education in Tonga.
We gathered here this evening to acknowledge and congratulate the successful scholarship recipients. As the world is learning to live with Covid-19 Tonga too along with its Pacific neighbors is opening its borders to maintain business as usual.
Traveling abroad to study in the People’s Republic of China on these prestigious scholarships, is an investment for the government and the families of these recipients. Once again, I thank Your Excellency for your ongoing commitment to the citizens of Tonga and their lifelong learning dream to pursue excellence in Education.
In 1998, China and Tonga established diplomatic relations and Education is one of the most important areas for China-Tonga cooperation and has made great achievements in the past years. The Chinese Government started offering scholarships to Tongan students since 2001. Since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1998, China and Tonga have been nurturing a growing relationship embedded in various cultural exchanges including, but not limited to, scholarships such as the Chinese Government Scholarship which almost 200 students have benefited from.
This evening, we witness yet another group of successful recipients who will pursue academic excellence in Chinese Universities next year. To date, we have witnessed the successful completion of study programs and qualified scholars returning home to contribute to Tonga’s development. I believe that many more students will have the opportunity to study in China in the future and we will continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor and the further enhancement of the China-Tonga education cooperation.
To all the successful recipients who will be departing our shores soon, I encourage you all to learn the Chinese language and culture while you are studying for your various programs. I wish you all of God’s abundant blessings and protection during your time in China and we will be looking forward to the successful completion of your study programs in the not-too-distant future.
谢谢xie xie
Finally, Your Excellency, I wish to thank you again for your generous financial contribution to educating our people. I affirm the Tonga Government’s support and ongoing collaboration. May God bless the People of the Republic of China and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Speech by Mr. Ruan Dewen Chargé d' Affaires of China in Tonga
Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Training
Respected Officials from the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Friends from Tonga-China Friendship Association, Dear students and family members Ladies and gentlemen:
Welcome to the Chinese Embassy. It is my great pleasure to attend today’s pre-departure ceremony. It is a moment we waited for too long. The Chinese people often say, "True gold can stand the test of fire”. The volcanic eruption and tsunami early this year and the Covid-19 pandemic thereafter are tests for everyone here in Tonga. Stand the test, overcome the difficulty, we emerge stronger and more resilient.
First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, I'd like to extend my warm congratulations to the winners of the Chinese Government Scholarships for the past three years. It is a good chance for you.
You earned it, with the concerted efforts of your family, your teacher, and especially the support of the Tongan government. Here I'd also like to express sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for your support of the educational exchange and cooperation between China and Tonga.
Over the past 24 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, remarkable progress has been made in bilateral relations, and fruitful results achieved in educational cooperation.
Up to now, there are altogether around 300 Tongan students who won Chinese government scholarships and studied in China. Now they work in different fields in Tonga, using knowledge and skills learned from China for the development of Tonga, and acting as a bridge of friendship between our two countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, we all like passengers aboard the same ship. To navigate the storm and sail toward a bright future, all passengers must pull together. The international community has evolved so much that it has become a sophisticated and integrated apparatus. Acts to remove any single part will cause serious problems to its operation. When that happens, both the victims and the initiators stand to lose.
Since we live in a global community of shared futures and destinies, cooperation and solidarity are the only way for all of us to survive and develop. Mutual understanding is the foundation of cooperation and solidarity. People-to-people exchange is the most important and effective way to promote understanding, especially in the field of education.
When young people understand each other, there will be a solid foundation of understanding between different countries. That is what we did and what we are doing now. In 2018 China and Tonga signed a five-year MOU on education cooperation and exchange when His Majesty Tupou VI paid a state visit to China.
We are now working to resume the MOU for another 5 years so that we can bring more teaching resources here and there can be more exchanges of students and teachers, and young people between our two countries can understand more about each other.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
For those students who go to China for the first time, I want to say a few words. Living in a totally different country, far away from home, with different culture and lifestyle, is not easy. However, I want to assure you that the Chinese people are friendly people, just like Tonga people. With friendly Chinese classmates and teachers, study hard, and enjoy delicious Chinese food and culture you certainly will love, I am sure you will have a good time in China.
Last but most important, considering the impact of volcanic eruption, tsunami and Covid-19, and especially the very high price of international travel expenses at the moment, the Chinese Embassy decided to cover all the travel expenses for this year’s students. We also prepared some little gifts for the students. A watch, hope you cherish your time of study in China. Some N95 masks for protection from COVID-19 on your way to China.
Wish you all a good and pleasant trip to China.
MALO
