On September 6, 2011, Counsellor Zhai Xingfu of the Chinese Embassy in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, attended the farewell ceremony for 6 Bahamian students who will go to study in China on scholarship offered by the Hanban of China (Office in Charge of Overseas Chinese Learning under the Ministry of Education of China). Third Secretary Hong Yanming was present.
Counsellor Zhai expressed his appreciation to Mrs. Betsy Vogel Boze, President of the College of The Bahamas for her care and support of the Confucius Classroom of the College. He also expressed his congratulations to the 6 Bahamian students who won the scholarships of the Hanban of China and were leaving for China soon.
Mr. Zhai interpreted cultural differences with vivid examples and emphasized the importance of language learning. He said language is not only an important means of communication among people of different backgrounds, but a key to the door of various cultures as well. With this key, people from different cultures can fly over cultural barriers and deal with each other peacefully and live together harmoniously.
He pointed out more and more attention of the international community was focused on China's role in today's world, resulting in more foreigners outside China interested in learning about China, and then knowing China. Only when one has a good mastery of the Chinese language can he better understand China, and then really know China.
Mr. Zhai cited famous remarks on knowledge "Knowledge is good to learn, better to enjoy and best to love" of the most famous Chinese sage Confucius to encourage the Bahamian students to make more efforts on the Chinese language at the beginning stage, enable themselves to enjoy the Chinese culture later, and eventually to comprehend today's China thoroughly. He also wanted the students to fulfill their studies in China and to serve their country with what they learn in China upon their return to The Bahamas.
Mr. Zhai also hoped that the Bahamian students will become the successors of the China-Bahama friendship, pushing the bilateral relations between China and The Bahamas forward continuously.