[NYTr] Chinese Official Praises Cuban Spanish Language Program

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Chinese Official Praises Cuban Spanish Language Program

Havana, Nov 15 (acn) The Secretary of the National Scholarship Board of 
China, Zhang Xinyu, thanked Cuban President Fidel Castro for its 
cooperation with its intensive Spanish language program for Chinese 
students.

The official spoke at the inauguration Wednesday evening of the third 
course for Chinese students in Tarara, a community in the municipality 
of Habana del Este.

Ms. Zhang Xinyu highlighted the academic cooperation between the two 
countries that further strengthens bilateral relations. She recalled 
that Cuba was the first Latin American nation to establish diplomatic 
relations with the People's Republic of China.

The official carried a message from the Chinese minister of education 
that spoke about the expansion of ties in the field of education and 
praised the work of Cuban educators. The minister underlined the desire 
of China, expressed at the recent 17th Communist Party Congress, to 
overcome all obstacles, to eliminate inequalities and continue 
advancing on the socialist path.

More than 1,000 Chinese students, including the 648 taking part in the 
third course, and 20 who will improve their language skills in 
preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games, were present at the 
beautiful large green outdoor plaza in Tarara. The ceremony was also 
presided over by Mercedes Lopez Acea, a member of the Communist Party 
Central Committee Secretariat; Otto Rivero Torres, a vice president of 
the Council of Ministers; and Juan Vela Valdes, minister of Higher 
Education.

Also on hand for the inauguration were Brigadier General Moises Sio 
Wong, president of the Cuba-China Friendship Association, and the 
president of the University of Havana, Ruben Zardoya Lauredo, who 
explained that, with the beginning of the third course, the Spanish 
Language Faculty for non-Spanish speaking students was officially 
opened.