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Zambia hails China for supporting in building human resource capital

Xinhua, August 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Zambian government on Thursday commended the Chinese government for the support rendered in helping the southern African nation build its human resource capacity through the provision of scholarships.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training & Early Childhood Sydney Mushanga said the scholarships given by the Chinese government over the years have helped in not only building Zambia's human resource capacity but the development of the country as the students usually get involved in various development activities after acquiring their education.

"The government is very grateful for such support and we would like to thank the Chinese government for the unwavering support to help us build our human resource capacity," he said during a farewell ceremony for Zambian students who have been given scholarships under the Chinese government scholarship program for the 2015/2016 academic calendar.

The Zambian minister further urged the students to be committed to their studies while in China and not to engage in vices that may derail their studies so that they could come back and contribute to the development of the country.

On his part, Pan Qingjiang, Charge d' Affaires at the Chinese Embassy, said the Chinese government decided to increase the number of scholarships this year to 49 due to a growing interest among Zambian students to study in China.

"It is not only a demonstration of the close people-to-people exchanges between China and Zambia, but also a great inspiration for our furtherance of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in educational field in the future," he said.

According to him, education was the foundation of any nation and that it has been one of the important areas of cooperation between China and Zambia.

Since 1978, China has provided a total of almost 700 government scholarships students, he said, adding that currently 1,700 Zambian students were studying in China, including self-sponsored students.

The official, who is currently acting ambassador to Zambia, further urged the students to utilize their stay in China to enhance cultural friendship between the two countries so that they become envoys of promoting the understanding and friendship between the two countries. Endit