On 27 August 2003, the Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Li Zhengjun hosted a reception to bid farewell to the four Papua New Guineans who are travelling to China for study and training. The reception was well attended by guests from the PNG Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Department of Education, Department of Defence and the PNG Defence Force. The occasion was graced by the presence of Mr. Gabriel Pepson, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Mr. Peter Baki, Secretary for Ecucation and Captain Tom Ur, Acting Commander of the PNG Defence Force. Following is the speech delivered by Ambassador Li at the reception:


Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are happily gathering together here today to bid farewell to the four PNG friends who have got scholarships from the Chinese Government to study in China. Among them two PNGDF officers and two civilians. Lt. Col. Michael Kumun is going to study in the National Defence University in Beijing. Major William Bartley is going to study in the Army Command College in Nanjing. Mr. John Dop from the UPNG is going to study in Beijing University and Mr. Paul Siwi is going to study in the Central South University in Changsha, Hunan Province. So first of all, I'd like to congratulate them for having this precious opportunity to study in China's famous universities.

Nowadays countries around the world have become increasingly aware of the importance of education in nation building. China's school education has had a history of several thousand years. In the new economic era, science, technology and education have become an increasing strong driving force for a healthy, speedy and sustained economic development. Education shoulders the important task of raising the overall qualities of a nation and fostering people with a pioneering spirit and innovative capabilities. The important role it plays in talent cultivation, knowledge renewal, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application determines that education has a foundation status in a knowledge-based economy. Therefore, the Chinese Government attaches great importance to education and has adopted the state policy of "rejuvenating the Chinese nation through education and progresses in science and technology". With the nationwide efforts, China's modern education develops very rapidly. China ranks the second in the world in the number of universities, next only to the US. China boasts of 1,841 institutions of higher learning, with the total enrolment of 11 million. Among these higher learning institutions, more than 350 universities nationwide enroll foreign students from more than 150 countries. In the last 20 years, China has accepted a cumulative total of 258,000 foreign students. With China's robust economic growth, we will be able to provide more scholarships to our friends in the developing countries in the future. I hope more and more PNG students could go to China to further their study in various disciplines.

I am glad to note that our bilateral relations have been developing from strength to strength. The recent years have also witnessed the increase of contacts between the two sides. Your Governor General Sir Silas Atopare just returned to Port Moresby a week ago after making a successful goodwill visit to China. While in China, he was warmly welcomed by the Chinese people and he met with the Chinese President Hu Jintao in a very friendly atmosphere. They both stressed that our bilateral relations will be further enhanced. And during the recent PIF meeting in Auckland, Foreign Minister Sir Rabbie met with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong. They discussed the ways of how to further promote our bilateral relations. Vice Foreign Minister Zhou promised that China would continue to provide economic aid to PNG, I am sure with concerted efforts of both sides, the future of our bilateral relations will be brighter.

Among our guests present here today are Mr. Vincent Sumale, acting director of Asia Branch of the Foreign Affairs Department, Dr. Alphonse Tay, the CEO of the General Hospital and Major Tau Ila from the PND Defence Force. They have all had their professional training in China and have become leaders in their respective work units now. I hope, just like them, Lt. Col. Michael Kumun and other three colleagues will elevate their academic standards through their study in China, and at the same time they can make good use of their time to learn more about the Chinese people, the Chinese history and culture. After returning to PNG, with a broader vision, they will be able to make their own contributions to better serving the PNG people and to the development of the friendship and cooperation between our two peoples and two countries. Finally, please join me in wishing them a pleasant trip and most enjoyable and rewarding stay in China.