| Ishan Ibrahim |
EIGHT Bruneian students were presented scholarships to Chinese universities by the Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Yang Jian, in a ceremony held at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam yesterday. These students will further their education at Peking University, Beijing Normal University, Shandong University and other universities in China.
They will soon start their studies in China for bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.
The students who received the awards were Dayangku Nur Razanah binti Pengiran Abdul Rahman, Arumi Izzazwazini binti Haji Ramli, Jordine Maxine Yong Tshya, Li Pei Fen, Md Ar-rifa’ie bin Pehin Dato Haji Halbi, Siti Aqilah binti Haji Lukman and Rajazre bin Etim. Another recipient of the award, Min Shen, was not able to attend the event.
Talking to the Bulletin, Ambassador Yang Jian said she hopes more Bruneian students will further their studies in China and this will also lead to the strengthening of people-to-people relationships.
The Chinese Government has been giving more scholarships to Asean member countries over the last few years, she added, and expressed her government’s hopes that this venture will increase understanding and friendly relationships, especially between the young people from both countries.
Ambassador Yang Jian presenting a certificate to a recipient. – PHOTOS: ISHAN IBRAHIM
Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Yang Jian, in a group photo with the students and their par-ents. Eight Bruneian students yesterday received scholarships from the Chinese Government to further their studies in Chinese universities
As per the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Education of Brunei Darussalam on the ‘Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education’ signed in 2004, the two countries have begun to provide government scholarships to each other on a reciprocal basis since 2005.
In 2007, the Chinese government decided to provide two more scholarships to Bruneian students.
During the 18th China-Asean Summit in November 2015, the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declared that China would give 1,000 more government scholarships to Asean member countries in the next three years.
The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China thus started a programme named ‘Special Scholarships for China-Asean Exchanges’.
Under this programme, the Chinese government gives 10 more government scholarships to Brunei from 2016. In addition, students from all over the world including Brunei can also apply to scholarships under China’s Ministry of Commerce programmes. Since 2005, about 20 Bruneian students have successfully applied for scholarships and studied in China.
On the relations between the two countries, Ambassador Yang Jian also said that Bruneian painters visited China last April upon invitation of the Chinese government.
The Bruneian guests visited Shanghai, Kwangshan and other cities during their memorable Chinese trip, and Chinese painters also visited Brunei this month, the ambassador revealed.
The Chinese Embassy is also planning to hold a joint art exhibition in November to comme-morate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China, she added.
Five Bruneian painters are invited to the art exhibition, and painters from China are also invited.
In this context, she said that Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has visited China earlier this year in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In April this year, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also visited Brunei. These visits are hoped to enhance the economic relations between the two countries, as well as the people-to-people relations, she said.
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