STORY: Ethiopia hosts 1st annual seminar to boost Chinese language education
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the seminar
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZHANG YAWEI, Cultural counselor at Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BULTOSA HIRKO, Deputy head of Oromia Regional State Education Bureau

STORYLINE:

The first annual seminar on Chinese language education was held Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, emphasizing the need to promote Chinese language education across the East African country.
   
The event, which brought together Chinese and Ethiopian language instructors and experts, focused on establishing an effective Chinese language education system in Ethiopia and addressing challenges in the process.
   
Speaking at the seminar, Zhang Yawei, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said the conference aimed to share experiences, build on successes, address issues and jointly advance Chinese language education in Ethiopia.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZHANG YAWEI, Cultural counselor at Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia
"With the acceleration of globalization and the increasing exchanges between China and Ethiopia, the importance of Chinese language education in Ethiopia has become increasingly obvious. Learning Chinese not only opens a window for Ethiopian students to understand Chinese culture, history, and society, but also provides them with more opportunities and choices for their future development."
  
Bultosa Hirko, deputy head of the Oromia Regional State Education Bureau, said Chinese language education is gaining popularity in Ethiopia, unlocking economic opportunities, promoting cultural exchange, and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BULTOSA HIRKO, Deputy head of Oromia Regional State Education Bureau
"Ethiopia and China have developed a robust, realistic relationship over the years, characterized by cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure, trade, investment.
The implementation of the Chinese language curriculum has been significantly supported by the Chinese government, which has participated in recruiting teachers, training them, and providing the necessary curriculum materials."

With Ethiopia's strong economic ties to China and the growing presence of Chinese companies, especially in road, railway, and industrial zone development, the demand for Chinese language education has surged in Ethiopian universities and colleges.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)