- The Chinese embassy in South Africa has arranged for 31 student leaders to travel to China
- The students will participate in a two-week summer camp and exchange programme
Thirty-one student leaders who belong to the South African Students Congress have been selected to take part in an exchange programme arranged by the Chinese embassy in South Africa.
The students gathered at the Embassy of China in Pretoria on Sunday 8 September where the Ambassador of China for South Africa, Ling Songtian, explained the trip’s objectives will focus mainly on education, economics and culture.
The exchange forms part of eight major initiatives introduced by President Xi Jinping to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and China.
Ling Songtian says he expects the trip to be an “eye-opener” for the selected students as they experience life in China. The students will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Ling Songtian said he would like the students to learn about the Chinese government’s socialist culture and how it has benefited the residents of Shenzhen, which has experienced good economic growth.
The students have been invited to learn about China’s history, what it is now experiencing and its future plans, said Ling Songtian. The Chinese embassy hopes the trip will create unity between Chinese and South African youth. The exchange programme, which has been paid for by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the Chinese government, takes place from 9 to 23 September.
The students said they were excited to taste Chinese food and interact with student leaders in China, while strengthening relationships between South Africa and China.
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