Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa speaks during a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 25, 2016. A ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy was held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun)
NAIROBI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over 100 Kenyan students who have received Chinese government scholarships will soon leave Kenya to pursue their acedemic dreams in China.
Speaking at a farewell ceremony for the Kenyan students, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa said that this year alone, Beijing has offered 450 government scholarships and more than 500 training opportunities for Kenyan youth, state officials and professionals.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa, Kenyan guests and students who received scholarships to China take a group photo after a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 25, 2016. A ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy was held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun)
"China has become one of the most favored destinations for Kenyans pursuing higher education and professional skills abroad," said the ambassador.
The Principal Secretary in the state department of higher education, Professor Colletta Suda said scholarships will boost Kenya's aspirations of expanding access to higher education for the youth.
Professor Colletta Suda, principal secretary of Kenya's state department of higher education, addresses a ceremony at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Aug. 25, 2016. The ceremony was held on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun)
"An opportunity for our youth to access higher education in China is highly valued. The skills these youth will acquire in China will be required back home," Suda said.
The beneficiaries of Chinese government funded scholarships were drawn from leading public universities in Kenya where they were pursuing undergraduate and post postgraduate degrees.
Fatma Abdullatif Abdallah, a representative of the Kenyan students who received scholarships to China, speaks during a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 25, 2016. A ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy was held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya on Thursday to bid farewell to 120 Kenyan students who have received scholarships to study in China. (Xinhua/Li Baishun)
They will be admitted in several universities in China from early September to study cream courses like diplomacy, engineering and public administration.
Suda noted that the Chinese government scholarships have fostered cultural diplomacy while boosting Kenya's efforts to bridge skills gap.
"The number of our students going to China for further studies has gradually increased. As a result, our mutual friendship has been strengthened," said the principal secretary.
China is committed to fostering mutual friendship with Kenya through educational and cultural exchange programs.
The Chinese government has since 1982 offered scholarships to Kenyan students annually.
