On 21st August 2019, Chinese Ambassador H.E. Dr. Zhao Yanbo and Mme. Mao Xuehong held a farewell reception for the 2019 Chinese Government Scholarship beneficiaries and Botswana Defence Force (BDF) officers at the Chinese Embassy in Gaborone. Ms. Tebogo Bagopi, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ms. Botlhale Makgekgenene, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, Major General Mpho Mophuting, Director General of Support Services of BDF and around 120 people attended the reception.
Ambassador Zhao in his remarks expressed warm congratulations to the 52 students and 20 BDF trainees who have been nominated to study in China this year. He pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Botswana have identified education and capacity building as an important area of cooperation. Over 600 government scholarship students have completed their study in China and returned to Botswana to serve this country, and China has become one of the favorite destinations to study abroad for Botswana and African students. The training program for BDF has also become an annual arrangement for China-Botswana human resources cooperation.
Ambassador Zhao also emphasized that since H.E. President Mokgweetsi Masisi paid a state visit to China and attended the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year, China-Botswana relations have entered a new era and enjoyed a sound momentum of development. He encouraged all the students and trainees to seize the opportunity and work hard so as to promote bilateral exchanges, carry on China-Botswana friendship and realize the dream of building an even stronger China-Botswana and China-Africa community of a shared future.
Ms. Tebogo Bagopi, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology expressed Botswana Government’s gratitude for the invaluable support from China, and encouraged all the students to do the best in their future endeavors so as to contribute to Botswana’s nation building and Botswana-China friendship. She also stressed the importance of abiding by laws and regulations during their study and life in China.
The Embassy also held an orientation for the students with advice on life and study in China. The reception concluded in a friendly and joyful atmosphere and was covered by a number of local media.
