56 South African students win scholarship to study in China

A total of 56 South African students won Chinese government scholarship and they will leave for China shortly, said Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian on Thursday.

At the send-off reception for South African recipients of Chinese government scholarship in Pretoria, Lin said the Chinese government scholarship program is to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people around the world.

A 12th grade class at Khabazela High School pose for a picture in their classroom in eMbo, west of Durban, South Africa, September 23, 2015. [File Photo: VCG]

Since its inception in South Africa in 2001, the Chinese government scholarship program has provided more than 400 South African students with full scholarships to study in China, and the number of scholarships has been on the increase in recent years.

"This year, in addition to providing scholarships for more than 150 South African students studying in Chinese universities, the Chinese government will offer scholarships to another over 50 South African students present here to study in China," said Lin.

"These students have a mammoth task ahead of them and we urge them to come back home one day to implement skills and insights they will learn," said Toni Gumede, Brand South Africa's, strategic relationship manager.

Among the 56 South African recipients of Chinese government scholarship, about three-quarters of these students are going to pursue doctoral and master's degree in over 30 majors.

"We believe that a program of this nature empowers these bright young minds to represent the country well and upon completion of their study, to contribute to a better South Africa," said Gumede.

At present, the number of South African students in China has exceeded 3,000, more than seven times that of five years ago.