The attractiveness of China to Barbadian students and visitors was the focus when Chinese Ambassador Wang Ke paid a courtesy call on Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, at his office at the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, recently.
Both officials acknowledged that their countries had enjoyed ???good relationships??? and agreed that persons were interested in studying a wide range of disciplines and going to China, on the whole.
Pointing out that last year four students and a number of military personnel had travelled there, Minister Jones said: ???We had examined the possibility of a slight increase in the numbers. China is indeed becoming an attractive place??? We have persons calling the Ministry every day, even before the scholarships are out and asking ???how soon??? we will be advertising them.???
Ambassador Wang Ke noted that China had provided scholarships to the island for over 30 years and assured the Minister that an increase in scholarships could be achieved once the required number was provided.
???We did a lot of cooperation and do have a lot of potential to explore especially at the University of the West Indies with the Confucius School,??? she said, adding that a feasibility study was being planned in this respect and once established, the school would ???contribute a lot to the teaching of Chinese language here???.
The meeting concluded with the Ambassador noting that an official visit to China by the Education Ministry would be welcomed, and Minister Jones stating that Barbados looked forward to further cooperation ???especially in education and building, and on what we have been achieving over those several decades.???
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb