On 7 August 2026, H.E. Yan Jiarong, Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, and the Hon. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technology, jointly met with Bahamian recipients of Chinese scholarships for 2026. Students who received Chinese Government Scholarships, Hunan Provincial Scholarships and Guizhou Provincial Scholarships, together with their parents attended.

Ambassador Yan highlighted China’s development in education and its diverse scholarship programs. She noted that China continues to advance high-level opening-up in education, welcoming young people from around the world, nurturing talent and sharing opportunities for development with the international community. She welcomed more young Bahamians  to study in China and contribute to the development of The Bahamas and to China-Bahamas friendship.

Deputy Prime Minister Cooper spoke highly of the achievements of educational cooperation between The Bahamas and China. He encouraged Bahamian students to make good use of their knowledge and skills learned in China to serve their mother country.

The Bahamian students shared their experiences applying for scholarships and studying in China, expressing excitement and aspirations to study in China.

Major Bahamian newspapers and television stations interviewed Ambassador Yan, Deputy Prime Minister Cooper and student representatives at the event.