SATV, Kathmandu, June 18: 2024 China Higher Education Exhibition has been started from this early morning today in Hyatt Regency. Embassy of People's Republic of China in collaboration with China Scholarship Council organised this one day exhibition with the aim of presenting their universities facilities, scholarships and programmes to the students interested to explore and understand about higher level education opportunities in China. 31 Chinese universities exhibited themselves in the event.

The Chinese universities exhibition has been held for the first time in a decade in Nepal. There are 31 well-known Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University, China University of Political Science and Law, and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, with the aim of holding a higher education exhibition in Nepal.

According to the 2023 "Nature Index" ranking, China's research quality in the field of natural sciences ranks first for the first time. China's number of scientific papers in high-level international journals ranks first in the world and its number of highly cited papers ranks second in the world.  

Honorable Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Deepak Kafle showed his honourable presence in the event. Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Narayankaji Shrestha, His Excellency Ambassador of China to Nepal Chen Song, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of Disciplinary Inspection Commission of China Scholarship Council, Mr. Zhang Jun attended the event.

Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Narayankaji Shrestha highlighted that China has been one of the prominent destinations for Nepalese students. He asserted,"today, we already have a significant number of professionals who have studied in China and are now excelling at their respective fields in Nepal. With increasing number of scholarship schemes and frequent and regular exhibitions like this, I am confident that this number will increase further and Chinese university-graduates will be one of the key factors for Nepal's developmental roadmap ahead, I believe."

Representing a learner side of Nepalese, he explained, “we want to learn from China's charismatic development. Education may be one of the areas where Nepal can reap the benefits of China's vast knowledge and technological advancement. As education shapes human capital, it is the key to sustainable development and prosperity. Today's emphasis on educational collaboration will bear fruits in the future.”

Ambassador of China to Nepal His Excellency Chen Song awared the audience sharing that in the world's most influential university ranking, the number of Chinese universities selected in the TOP 200 is increasing year by year. The proportion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects among China's higher education graduates, ranks among the top in the world, laying a strong talent foundation for the improvement and development of new productive forces.

He added,"the main plan of the country is based on education itself. During the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, Nepalese student's study program in China has also experienced numerous changes and developments, from zero to start and small to large points."

Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of Disciplinary Inspection Commission of China Scholarship Council, Mr. Zhang Jun stated that, the China Scholarship Council is committed to promoting exchanges between Chinese and foreign teachers and students. It not only funds Chinese students and scholars to study abroad every year but also funds international youths in China through Chinese government scholarships. Since its establishment more than 20 years ago, it has funded more than 300,000 Chinese students and scholars to study abroad and nearly 200,000 international students and scholars to study in China. He highlighted, “When education thrives, the country thrives; when education is strong, the country is strong.”

Dr. Harish Chandra Shah, President of Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Council expressed that Nepalese graduates of of China are very beneficial to Nepal as they produce calm, intellectual and self-confident students. China has been a great destination of higher education among Nepalese and world students in which this exhibition can be of great help.

More than 200 students participated the exhibition until noon. From parents to their child and different schools also visited the exhibition along their students to explore the foreign education opportunities. 

A parent, Ramesh Maharjan in the exhibition shares SATV, "after learning about the Chinese Higher Education Exhibition through LRI School, I came to observe it. I am very happy to decide to come here and have the necessary consultation with the representatives of famous universities in China regarding education, facilities, scholarships and other matters. I have also decided to educate my daughter in China."