Education part of overall relationship, says envoy

COOPERATION between China and Papua New Guinea in areas of education has always been an important part of the overall relations, says Chinese Ambassador Xue Bing.
Xue said each year, China provided about 30 government scholarships to PNG students to study in China.
“Up to now, over 450 PNG students have been accorded Chinese scholarships,” he said.
“Most of them have returned to Papua New Guinea after completing their studies in China and have taken up important jobs in government departments, companies and institutions.”
Xue said this year also marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the countries.
He said while the anniversary would fall in October, the Chinese government had presented the recently opened Confucius Institute at the PNG University of Technology in Lae as an early gift to mark this occasion.
Xue said this institute would open doors for Papua New Guineans to secure Chinese scholarships to study their subject of choice at Chinese universities.
He said China had assisted with many infrastructure development in the education sector, including the Butuka Academy in Port Moresby’s Moresby South, – now the most advanced and modern school in this region.
“China will continue to provide assistance for PNG economic and social development, expand exchanges and cooperation in all areas and support PNG in playing a more important role on international and regional stage,” he said.