On January 21st, 2020, H.E. Dr. Xiao Jianguo, Ambassador of China to Timor-Leste participated in the Award Ceremony of the 2019 Chinese Ambassador Scholarship held by the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), and awarded the certificates to scholarship recipients. The first batch of 50 scholarship recipients and some of their parents, representatives of Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture and university teachers attended the ceremony.
Ambassador Xiao said that the "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship" program is the first scholarship program set up by the Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste for Timorese students. It is designed to help intelligent and poor students complete their studies, and inspire them to study hard, so as to become the of the country in the future. It is also hoped that this project will allow more Timorese students to learn something about China, and to be the promoter and carrier of the friendship between China and Timor-Leste. At present, China and Timor-Leste are vigorously pushing forward Belt and Road cooperation, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields are increasing. In the field of education, China has provided more than 200 outstanding Timorese students with full scholarships to study in China since 2006. Institute of Business in Timor-Leste also successfully applied for a Confucius Classroom last year. He hoped that the cooperation in education, culture and people-to-people exchanges between two sides would be greatly and frequently advanced in the future.
Dr. Francisco Martins, Rector of the UNTL said that UNTL attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side, and thanked the Chinese Embassy for setting up the "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship" program at UNTL, he encouraged scholarship recipients to keep studying hard. UNTL looks forward to continuing to strengthen ties with China and strive for the early arrival of Confucius Institute in Timor-Leste.
The representative of scholarship recipients Mr. João Manuel da Costa Sarmento expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in the Chinese saying “When drinking water, one should never forget those who dug the well”.
The establishment and operation of the "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship" program has been recognized and supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture. The first 2019 program offered scholarships to 50 UNTL students, including 30 students in the “Academic Merit” category and 20 students in the “Low Income Condition or War Orphan” category.