China News Service Ottawa, December 12 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) The Chinese Embassy in Canada held a reception for the 6th anniversary of the "China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program" on December 12. Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu said in his speech that the establishment of this project demonstrates the strategic vision of both sides, reflects the extraordinary wisdom of both sides, and highlights the principles of exchanges between the two sides.
Cong Peiwu said that over the past 50 years, groups of Canadian students and scholars have studied and lived in China, and witnessed the tremendous achievements of China's reform and opening up. They have built a bridge of cooperation and exchanges between China and Canada, and written the successful 50 years of the "China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program" with their personal experiences. The establishment of this project demonstrates the strategic vision of both sides, reflects the extraordinary wisdom of both sides, and highlights the principles of interaction between the two sides. The project has laid a people-to-people foundation for the development of relations between the two countries and set a good example for exchanges between countries. The governments of China and Canada have taken education as a priority area of cooperation and have cultivated a large number of China-Canada friendship envoys. The two governments uphold the principles of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences, and promote cultural integration and people-to-people ties between China and Canada.
On December 12, local time, in Ottawa, Canada, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu delivered a speech at the 6th anniversary reception of the "China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program" held by the Chinese Embassy in Canada. Photo by China News Service reporter Yu Ruidong
Cong Peiwu said that the 50-year history of the "China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program" has enlightened people, and the more difficult the time, the more important it is to learn from the broad minds of the predecessors and pave the way for exchanges between the two peoples. It is the aspiration of the people to get China-Canada relations back on track, and it is the hope of all for China and Canada to carry out extensive and in-depth cooperation. It is hoped that the Canadian side and China will work in the same direction and continue to bring bilateral relations back on the right track in the spirit of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences. He also welcomed more Canadian students and scholars to China to witness China's development and progress bring more stability and prosperity to the world.
Canadian Senator Hu Zixiu and other political representatives, some alumni of the "China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program" from all over Canada, and educators attended the event.
Tahijan, representative of Canada's Department of Global Affairs, said that the "China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program" is the earliest bilateral scholarship program established by the Canadian government, which has played a positive role in promoting Canada-China relations and bilateral cooperation.
Jacques Fremont, President of the University of Ottawa, said that the continued support of Canada and China for this educational cooperation project reflects the importance that both countries value in addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Alumni representatives from Canada and China shared the changes in their lives and horizons, and looked forward to promoting more exchanges between young people from both sides.
Fifty years ago, Canada and China agreed to establish a scholar exchange program to increase mutual understanding through government funding to send professionals from higher education institutions and governmental, media, and cultural organizations of both countries to study and research in each other's countries. The program has become the earliest, longest-lasting, most influential and highest-level intergovernmental talent training and scholar exchange program between China and Canada, and is also a witness to the development of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. So far, more than 50,1100 students and scholars from both countries have studied or studied in each other's countries through the program. Among them, since the beginning of the 21st century, nearly 380 Canadian students and scholars have gone to China. After returning to China, these alumni have been active in the Canadian government, academia, media, business, art and other fields, and some have become industry leaders. (ENDS)