Defence starts Mandarin classes

SENIOR officers of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and staff from the Department of Defence started Chinese language classes last Thursday.
The language programme was launched last Tuesday and was attended by Chief of PNG Defence Force Major-General Mark Goina and Defence secretary Hari John Akipe.
Akipe said the language programme was a priority and directed all department staff
listed for the course to be committed.
“Relations with China will be enhanced,” he said.
Akipe said staff members of the department and PNG Defence Force needed to learn Mandarin, a major regional and world language, that would be useful for communication in an array of sectors, including security.
“Learning to speak Mandarin will create a ‘Golden Bridge’ for Papua New Guineans and Chinese to work together and learn from each other,” China’s defence attaché to Papua New Guinea Colonel Jiang Tuan said during the launch.
“As relations with China continue to grow, it is important that we maintain good communication with our Mandarin-speaking counterparts,” Major-General Goina said.
The classes are expected to run for six months with the participants graduating in December.