Polye among 20 to study in China

By DAVID WAPAR
ELIJAH Polye, a first-year law student at the University of Papua New Guinea and son of Treasury Minister Don Polye, is among 20 scholarship students who will leave for China tomorrow under a Chinese government education programme.
The students received their travel documents from Chinese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Qiu Bohua, at the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby yesterday.
The students, from various educational institutions and sectors around Papua New Guinea, were at the embassy along with their parents as well as assistant director to the Office of Higher Education, Lonnie Baki.
Since the inception of the programme five years ago, the Chinese government granted 200 scholarships to Papua New Guineans in various fields of study.
Bohua challenged the students to study hard and act as true ambassadors while in China.
Bohua said just like health, education was one area where the Chinese government was focusing to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Baki thanked the Chinese government and said his office viewed such investment in building skills and manpower as vital.
“I want the Chinese government to continue support such capacity building programmes,” Baki said.
Polye said he was satisfied the programme, initiated during his term as foreign affairs Minister, is becoming a success through providing opportunities for Papua New Guineans to further their studies.
He said it was important to expose Papua New Guineans through such programmes to enable them to be competitive at the international level.