On June 22, Consul &Head of Post Zhou Youbin attended the opening ceremony of the Chinese Learning Center of Mariano Marcos State University. The event was led by MMSU President Dr. Shirley Agrupis together with other faculty and staffs, and students of the university.

In his speech, Consul Zhou pointed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning and flexible learning have become the necessary learning methods. Upon the request of President Agrupis, the Chinese Consulate in Laoag donated a batch of laptops and other equipment to help establish the Chinese Learning Center. Its opening will provide resources for the teachers and students in learning Chinese, broaden and deepen their understanding of China, and also benefit the cooperation between MMSU and Chinese universities.

 

"Today here is a small learning classroom. Tomorrow it will be a platform for mutual learning. In the future, it will become a bridge connecting China and the Philippines," the Consul said.

Zhou also mentioned that last June 9 marks the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, and also the 20th China-Philippines Friendship Day. The opening of the Chinese Learning Center is another manifestation of the friendship between the Chinese and Filipinos and an important part of celebrating the China-Philippines Friendship Day.

He likewise noted that the China-Philippines relations have enjoyed sound development for the past 46 years, and friendship is the main tone of their relations. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Duterte, China-Philippines comprehensive strategic cooperative relations has achieved fruitful results, mutual political trust has been further enhanced, and the cooperation in economy, culture, science and technology, education and other fields have made considerable progress. In addition, he said that millions of doses of vaccines from China have provided tremendous help to the Philippines in controlling the pandemic and to resume production, signifying that China and Philippines are each other's good neighbor, good friend and good partner forever and that it is in times of adversities that we can see the truth.

The Consul also expressed that on July 1, the Communist Party of China will celebrate its 100th anniversary. In the past century, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people through hard work and rigorous struggle which gained great achievements in national independence, liberation and economic development. It has implemented all-round reforms and opening up, and achieved a tremendous transformation--it has stood up, grown rich, and become strong. The unprecedented poverty alleviation project has been successfully completed, phased achievements have been made in controlling the pandemic, and the resumption of work and production as well as school opening has been carried out in an orderly manner, which will all provide a good opportunity for Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, to restore their economies.

Further, Zhou said that the Chinese Consulate in Laoag has been committed in promoting friendly relations in all aspects with Ilocos Norte, and MMSU is an important partner of the Consulate in cultural and educational cooperation. This year, the cooperation between MMSU, Minnan Normal University and Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences have achieved tangible results. MMSU is a well-known university in the Philippines, with outstanding teachers and students, the Consul believes that they will definitely make great contributions in promoting the bilateral cooperation of the two countries and will carry forward the China-Philippines friendship.

Meanwhile, President Agrupis expressed her gratitude to the Chinese Consulate in Laoag for its help and support for the establishment of the Chinese Learning Center. She assured that they will use, maintain and share these educational resources to further expand Chinese culture in the community and improve the knowledge and skills of teachers and students in the university, and will play an active role in promoting the China-Philippines friendship.

After the ceremony, Consul Zhou interacted with the faculty and students of MMSU.