The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sierra Leone has held a Farewell Reception to honor the Awardees of the Chinese Scholarship Year 2023-2024.
The auspicious event, which took place on Thursday August 24, 2023 at Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, was held in honour of a total of 155 students, who secured the coveted Chinese Government Scholarship and the Ministry of Commerce of China Scholarship.
The distinguished gathering included prominent figures such as H.E Wanh Qing, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Hon. Amb. Victoria Sulimani, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alphaeus Koroma, President of the Sino-Sierra Leone Alumni Association, and other representatives from friendly organizations.
The event was also attended by Staff of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and Parents, Guardians and Awardees.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador H.E Wanh Qing extended warm congratulations to the Chinese scholarship awardees, highlighting the significant achievement of 155 Sierra Leonean applicants who have been granted full scholarships to Chinese Universities and Colleges.
He revealed that of these, 28 students received the Chinese Government Scholarship and 127 students secured the Degree Program Scholarship of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The Ambassador pointed out that this remarkable accomplishment places Sierra Leone second in terms of scholarship recipients on the African continent, underscoring the quality of Sierra Leonean students and the success of the “Free Quality Education” initiative.
Ambassador Wanh Qing expressed gratitude to various Sierra Leonean Ministries for their support and fruitful cooperation in the field of education, emphasizing the enduring bonds between China and Sierra Leone. The Ambassador stressed the importance of education as a long-term investment, citing China’s own commitment to education as a key factor in its progress.
He commended Sierra Leone’s dedication to education, acknowledging the substantial investment by the Government in the Free Quality Education program, which has significantly increased enrollment rates and pass rates in public exams. Ambassador Wanh Qing expressed confidence in Sierra Leone’s Five Big 5 Initiatives and affirmed China’s readiness to contribute through stronger educational cooperation.
Director-General and Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Amb Victoria Sulimani, echoed the sentiment of gratitude towards China’s significant contribution to Sierra Leone’s human capital development. She praised the enduring special relationship between the two countries, built on mutual trust, partnership, and shared values.
Ambassador Sulimani addressed the scholarship awardees directly, emphasizing their role as Ambassadors of Sierra Leone in China. She encouraged them to uphold Chinese work ethics and values while pursuing their education, highlighting the responsibility they carry to contribute to Sierra Leone’s development upon their return.
The farewell reception marked not only the academic journey of these scholarship awardees but also the enduring friendship and cooperation between China and Sierra Leone in the realm of education and beyond. The event was a testament to the shared commitment to human capital development and the strengthening of ties between the two nations.
