Philippines-China overseas students virtual gathering held online

The China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Foundation Inc. and the Philippine-Sino Education and Technology Promotion Center hold the 2021 Philippines-China Overseas Students Virtual Gathering

MANILA, Philippines — On November 29, the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Foundation Inc. and the Philippine-Sino Education and Technology Promotion Center, together with the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED), hosted the 2021 Philippines-China Overseas Students Virtual Gathering via Zoom.

Present during the event included Chinese Embassy Cultural Counselor Li Wei and Educational Counselor Xiong Sheng, China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Director and Philippine-Sino Education and Technology Promotion Center Director Vivian Zhang, CHED Regional Director Amelia Biglete and China-Philippines Silk Road Institute Deputy Director Riena Joie Quero and Project Head Valerie Tan.

During her welcome remarks, Director Vivian Zhang conveyed the tremendous achievement of the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute of fully tapping the resources and cooperation potential in the cultural and educational fields of the two countries and enabled establishing a platform for education and exchanges for the youth to create employment and development opportunities.

She further adds that the virtual gathering will help enhance the friendship and feelings between the Chinese and Filipino youth and promote people-to-people bonds and exchanges between the two countries.

Representing the Embassy, Counselor Li Wei said that the Chinese and Filipino youths are the heirs and pioneers of the friendship between the two countries and the future of amicable relations between China and the Philippines for generations to come.

She expressed her hopes of Filipino students in China telling more people about their stories and experiences to inspire more young Filipinos and encourage them to study in China as well, thus helping more Filipinos understand the real, comprehensive and three-dimensional image of China.

Meanwhile, CHED Regional Director Amelia Biglete mentioned in her speech the gradual increase of students going to China, learning the Chinese language and various professional skills and understanding the Chinese culture in recent years. She adds that these scholars have become the bridges of friendship between China and the Philippines.

With the COVID-19 situation improving, it is the right time to reestablish strategic cooperation programs between the universities in the two countries.

Five Filipino students who have studied in different universities in China: John Matthew Arcega, a master student in food technology at Ningbo University, Freddierick Mendez and John Benedict Lagarde, who both studied construction economics at Zhejiang College of Construction, Janice Fernandez, who completed her master's degree in engineering at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and Rose Ann Carnise, a financial management student at Hohai University, shared their most memorable experiences and some of their thoughts after studying abroad during the virtual meeting.

The program also included a video presenting the China-Philippines Silk Road Institute and project manager Valerie Tan announcing and introducing the newly slated activity network communication plan of the Institute. Deputy Director Riena Joie Quero delivered the closing remarks while Chinatown TV associate producer Louella Chan served as the host.