A delegation of top 24 Universities from People’s Republic of China yesterday held an exhibition dubbed “China Higher Exhibition 2023” at the Confucius Institute of the University of Ghana in Accra.
The event put together by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy of Accra, Ghana’s Ministry of Education and the Confucius Institute of the University of Ghana.
Opening the exhibition, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. LU Kun said the exhibition is to attract more Ghanaian students gain admission into Chinese Universities.
He said the exhibition seeks to offer prospective Ghanaians the opportunity to apply for scholarships to study in China and become ambassadors of cultural exchange and promote friendships between the two countries.
“China welcome talented Ghanaians to study in Universities in China, experience China’s development, learn Chinese culture and make new friends from China. The Embassy will continue to support the pursuit Ghanaian Students in China”, H.E. Kun added.
He expressed his thanks to the CSC for choosing Ghana to hold the exhibition since it is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic having visited Egypt and Ghana being the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This special arrangement reflects the great importance the Chinese government attaches to Ghana, as an education hub in the region and beyond”, he intimated.
Ambassador Kun recounted that China-Ghana friendship was nurtured by President Nkrumah, founding father of Ghana, Chairman MAO Zedong, and Premier ZHOU Enlai. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 63 years ago, China and Ghana have always been good friends, good partners and good brothers.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Ghana’s Minister of Education, stated that China’s higher educational system has been celebrated for its unwavering commitments to excellence, innovation and research and positioning itself as a global leader in education.
Mr. Sheng Jianxue, Secretary General, China Scholarships Council, said China and Ghana educational cooperation began in mid-twentieth century. Since China and Ghana Cultural Cooperation Agreement signed in nineteen sixty-one (1961), formal educational cooperation scheme was established and strengthened day by day.
“In the past decade, under the Belt and Road Initiative, our educational cooperation observed closer relations with more frequent exchanges between universities, serve as an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative”, he said.
Mr. Jianxue said his outfit is willing to use today’s exhibition as a platform of educational exchange, further strengthen the connectivity between China and Ghana higher education field, consolidating cooperation between the universities and supporting the two-way flow our students and scholars, promoting extensive exchange and mutual learning.
In a speech read on her behalf, Prof. Nana Abba Appiah Ampofo, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana said the setting up of the Confucius Institute in the country has improved the opportunities of Ghanaians students in the undergraduate Chinese programme and others outside the Chinese programme to learn their Chinese language and culture.
She commended the Chinese government for the scholarships and appealed for more scholarships for students in order to enhance cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that more than 6,500 Ghanaian students are studying in China, ranking it the second among all African countries for many consecutive years.
In all twenty-four Universities specializing in Science and Technology, Law, Economics and Polytechnic participated. This included East China Normal University, University of Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tongji University, Central South University, Nanjing University of Arts and Xian Jiaotong University among others.
