KABUL, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has offered 69 Afghan students scholarship awards to pursue various degree in Chinese language programs this year, as the two countries seek to boost educational exchanges and cooperation.
On Wednesday, some 56 students of Chinese language major from Confucius Institute at Kabul University, out of total students awarded, flew to China.
Education is one of the important areas of cooperation between the two countries, Raihana Popalzai, vice chancellor academic affairs of Kabul University, told the students at a pre-departure ceremony held for the beneficiaries on Monday.
Expressing gratitude to the Chinese government for extending scholarship opportunity to Afghan students, Popalzai urged the awardees to seize the opportunity to study hard.
She hoped the students could help further enhance the ties between the two peoples by having a good command of the Chinese language.
Established in 2008, the Confucius Institute has enrolled 321 local students learning Chinese and among them, 80 have graduated successfully.
Some 246 students of Chinese Department of Confucius Institute at Kabul University had benefited from scholarship offered by the Chinese government over the past eight years, according to Confucius Institute officials.
