On June 21st, H.E. Ambassador Wang Lixin attends the signing ceremony of MoU on Chinese Ambassador Bursary program between the Chinese Embassy in Maldives and Maldives National University and delivers a speech. The full text is as follows:
Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Wang Lixin at
the Signing Ceremony of MoU on Chinese Ambassador Bursary Program
Between Chinese Embassy and Maldives National University
Respected Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohamed Shareef,
Respected Deputy Vice Chancellors,
Dear Faculty members and students of MNU,
Good morning!
I am very pleased to attend the signing ceremony of MoU on the Chinese Ambassador Bursary Program between the Chinese Embassy and Maldives National University at your prestigious campus.
MNU is one of the two major public universities in Maldives. For many years, the University has nurtured numerous young talents who later have grown into the backbone of the economic and social development of Maldives. Warm congratulations on your remarkable academic achievements and great contributions to the nation!
Dear friends,
The importance of education, in particular higher education, to a nation could never been underestimated. Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that, “education is of critical importance to the future of our country”. Actually, great importance attached to education followed by concrete measures is the secret to China’s sustained development and remarkable progress. I’ve noticed that Maldivian government also attaches great importance to education. We follow the same philosophy.
Last year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Maldives diplomatic relations. Under the strategic guidance of heads of state of both countries, our bilateral relations have maintained a very good momentum of development. Education cooperation is an important part of China-Maldives relations. I am very pleased to see that in the recent years, major progress has been made in our educational cooperation which has helped boost the overall development of China-Maldives relations. In September 2021, the first Dhivehi class outside of Maldives was inaugurated in Beijing Foreign Studies University. Last year, the Chinese Language Center (CLC) was set up at Villa College. Last month, MNU signed an MoU on cooperation with Yunnan Open University. Every year dozens of Maldivian students go to China to further their study under the scholarship of the Chinese side.
Today, we will witness another major step of our educational cooperation, the signing of MoU on Chinese Ambassador Bursary Program between the Chinese Embassy and MNU. This program is an innovative and positive outcome of our educational exchanges and cooperation. It is aimed to provide financial assistance to the students of MNU who are excellent in academic performance but in financial need to accomplish higher education. This is the one of the first financial assistance programs provided by the Chinese Embassy in the Maldives. I hope this program will help those students who are in need of assistance to realize their academic dreams and usher in a new chapter of our educational cooperation in the future.
Dear friends,
As friendly neighbors in Asia, both China and the Maldives belong to the centuries-old and brilliant Asian civilization. Our traditional friendship was bonded together more than 600 years ago when the great Chinese navigator Zheng He led merchant ships to visit the Maldives twice. The voyage spread the Chinese civilization, enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples and initiated the history of exchanges and integration of our two civilizations. I do believe that educational cooperation will surely promote the cultural mutual respect and mutual learning as well as civilization prosperity and progress, which is the essence of the Global Civilization Initiative put forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping and serves the fundamental interests of our two countries.
Looking into the future, I look forward to more exchanges and cooperation in a wider range of subjects and disciplines between MNU and Chinese universities, which will surely help promote the academic performance and strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between the youth of our two countries. I also hope that the young students in MNU will play a role of bridge as ambassador of friendship between the two countries and two peoples and make your own contribution to the China-Maldives friendship!
Thank you!