9 December 2022

Distinguished Professor Dale Webber, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus(UWI Mona),

Professor Ian Boxill, Deputy Principal of the UWI Mona,

Mr. Feng Lei, Chinese Dean of the Confucius Institute of the UWI Mona,

Mr. Jason Mckenzie, Director of Student Services of the UWI Mona

Dear professors, students, friends,

Wah Gwaan!

I am very delighted to attend today’s awarding ceremony at the UWI Mona. Last week, Principal Webber and I attended the cheque handover ceremony from Chinese Embassy in Jamaica to the UWI Mona to support the development of its ICT Talent Hub, which aims to strengthen our cooperation in ICT field and support Jamaica’s STEM(Science, Technology, engineering and mathematics) development and cultivate more talents in that aspect.

A lot of students have gained strong support during their pursuits of dreams with the help of the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship since the start of this program. I would also like to send my appreciation to UWI Mona for its valuable support to the smooth implementation of Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship.

Today we have the great pleasure to gather here to witness 15 outstanding students from the UWI Mona to receive Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship. This fully demonstrates the close and sound cooperation between the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica and the UWI Mona, but also shows China’s great support for Jamaica’s educational cause and talents’ cultivation. On behalf of the Embassy, I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to the awarded students.

Dozens of students have gained strong support during their pursuits of dreams with the help of the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship since the start of this program at the UWI Mona. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the UWI Mona for its valuable support to the smooth implementation of Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship programme.

The UWI is one of the most prestigious comprehensive tertiary institutions in the Caribbean region. The UWI Mona has made important contributions to Jamaica’s socioeconomic development by cultivating a larger number of great talents across different fields in Jamaica, including many important politicians. The Confucius Institute at the UWI Mona has equipped a lot of students with Chinese language to render it possible for them to make positive contributions to deepening the understanding of our peoples and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Jamaica.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence, setting the stage for Jamaica’s new journey of “Reigniting a Nation for Greatness”. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica. Leaders of our two countries exchanged congratulatory messages on the Golden Jubilee of China-Jamaica relations, providing strategic guidance for future development of bilateral relations. Our countries have also jointly hosted a series of celebrating events, including the Symposium on China-Jamaica Relations at 50 and Beyond, China (Shandong)-Jamaica Investment Promotion Conference, and the Reception in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Jamaica, which took stock of the fruitful outcomes of China-Jamaica relations and expressed joint determination to create a bright future for China-Jamaica relations in the next 50 years.

The successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(CPC) in October this year has pointed out the grand blueprint and the path to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects. In the future, China will advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, accelerate the creation of a new development pattern, promote world peace and development, and build a community with a shared future for mankind, which will provide more opportunities for and inject more vitality into China’s pursuit of friendship and cooperation with Jamaica and all other countries.

 “If the young people are strong, the country will be strong”. All students seated here today are excellent representatives of Jamaican youths and represent the hope of Jamaica. I hope you cherish the time, study hard, and hone your skills so as to be talents of tremendous promise who could contribute a lot to Jamaica’s construction and development in the future. I hope you learn more about mandarin, and know more about China, the CPC and the Chinese culture so as to make yourselves more competitive at global arena. I also hope you be supporters of China-Jamaica Strategic Partnership, forwarders of China-Jamaica practical cooperation and promoters of China-Jamaica cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate China-Jamaica friendship through your real actions so as to create more benefits for our countries and our peoples. Looking ahead, the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica will continue to implement and strive to expand the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship programme in order to support more Jamaican students in pursuing their dreams and support Jamaica’s educational cause.

Lastly, I would like to, once again, warmly congratulate the students receiving the scholarship today. I hope other students continue to study hard and I look forward to presenting scholarships to you here next year. Big up！

Thank you all!