Chinese embassy in Kenya welcomes local students

Zhou Pingjian, China's ambassador to Kenya, hosted local students at the embassy and held an interactive question-and-answer session with them to deepen understanding and cooperation on education and culture.

During the event, held on Wednesday, students from Alliance High School and Kenya High School got the opportunity to learn about avenues for education collaboration with China. They also learned about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and were treated to Chinese cuisine commonly enjoyed during the holiday.

According to Zhou, youth play an important role in fostering the friendship between Kenya and China. He said the interactive session was a key element in promoting education and cultural exchanges which will go a long way in advancing China's cooperation with Kenya.

"We are very happy to host the Kenyan students on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival. It is a friendly visit to explore ways of cooperation with China through the Confucius Institute. We also wanted the students to feel how the Chinese embassy works in Kenya," Zhou said.

"We really appreciate your presence here with us, and we believe this kind of exchange will promote further understanding between China and Kenya. I wish this can be a good start to your interest in China," he added, urging the students to see China as a destination for higher learning.

While responding to questions from students, the ambassador said China has opportunities in various fields, including education, health, technology development and manufacturing, and called on the pursuit of those fields of study in China.

"If you want to be an academician, you may choose China for any subject you wish. On the other hand, if you want to use your knowledge for development, China is still a great option," Zhou said.

Irene Omangi, deputy principal of Kenya High School, urged the students to seize the opportunity and find out what has China a success story.

"There are very many schools out there that would have wanted to be part of the activity. Now that you have the privilege to be here, take advantage and learn as much as possible. We are looking up to you to change this country," Omangi said.

David Kamau Chomba, principal of Alliance High School, praised the cordial relations between China and Kenya, which he said have enabled Kenyans to pursue higher education opportunities in China. He added China is quickly becoming the new preferred destination for African students who want to further their studies abroad.

Wang Shangxue, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, impressed upon the students the importance of cultural exchanges and also shared a brief history of the Dragon Boat Festival.