STORY: Reception held for Kenyan students awarded Chinese government scholarships
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 22, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 23, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:59
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the ceremony
2. various of Kenyan students to be awarded with Chinese scholarship
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BEATRICE INYANGALA, Principal secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Education
4. Kenyan and Chinese officials during this ceremony
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHANG ZHIZHONG, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya
6. various of Kenyan students displaying their scholarship awards

STORYLINE:

A farewell reception was held for Kenyan students who received scholarships from the Chinese government to pursue advanced studies at universities in China.

Held at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the reception for 13 scholarship beneficiaries coincided with an award ceremony for the winners of the "China-Africa Cooperation in My Eyes" Essay Competition.

Senior Kenyan officials, diplomats, students, parents, and faculty attended the ceremony to bid farewell to local youth who will soon join Chinese universities to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in several disciplines, including civil engineering and finance.

Beatrice Inyangala, principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, hailed the robust partnership with China to promote tertiary education and reskill local youth.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BEATRICE INYANGALA, Principal secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Education
"Let me greatly appreciate the People's Republic of China for their continued partnership with the government of Kenya in supporting our education for Kenyan students by offering scholarships. As we are all aware, education is a fundamental right and critical for the development of our nation. To all of you students proceeding to China for studies, let me take this opportunity on behalf of the government of Kenya and on my own behalf to congratulate you for being among those who demonstrated great initiative."

She noted that over four decades, more than 2,000 Kenyans have benefited from scholarships to pursue advanced studies in China, and in the 2024-2025 financial year, 19 scholarships have been awarded to students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Zhang Zhizhong, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, noted that awarding scholarships to local students to study in China has fostered cultural exchanges and friendship.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHANG ZHIZHONG, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya
"For this year, a total of 65 Kenyan students, including 46 who have already studied in China, and 19 young, fresh talents in Kenya, are given Chinese government scholarships."

Zhang added that scholarships awarded to Kenyan youth to study in China align with the long-term objectives of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)