Ghana has the highest number of African students in China - Envoy
The Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, Jiang Zhouteng has disclosed that there are currently 5,516 Ghanaian students studying in tertiary institutions in China.
According to him, Ghana tops the list of African countries with the highest number of students in China and this would help to strengthen the relationship between the two countries in areas such as investment, finance, trade, education and agriculture development.
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Speaking at the first general meeting of the China-Ghana Graduates Association (CGGA) in Accra, Counselor Zhouteng said his country was delighted to be playing a role in improving the human resource base of the country.
He said: "China continues to be the largest trade partner and biggest investor of Ghana. People to people exchanges and cooperations is also gaining momentum in recent years. Currently... there are 5, 516 students studying in China, this number makes Ghana top among all African students in China".
He added that he was hopeful that the graduates would in a few years return to the country and make greater contributions to the friendly ties and cooperations between the two countries as well as the development and prosperity of Ghana.
Strengthening China-Ghana relations
Counselor Zhouteng indicated that 2017 was an important year for China-Ghana relations because high-ranking leaders of both countries paid visits to the respective countries.
"2017 was an important and fruitful year for China-Ghana relations. Since the NPP government took office, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has shown that he is committed to building a stronger China-Ghana relationship and mutual political trust between the two countries has been enhanced greatly," he added.
"In June 2017, His Excellency, the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia sent a large delegation to China and held fruitful talks and meetings with the Chinese national leader. The First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo also paid a successful visit to China in November last year. In addition a good number of senior officials from both sides have visited each other and reached consensus in areas of cooperation such as investment, finance, trade, education, infrastructure development and agriculture development".
Discrimination
Addressing reports of discrimination against Ghanaians in China, Counselor Zhouteng noted that only a "few cases" of discrimination against Chinese resident in Ghana as well as Ghanaians resident in Ghana had come to his attention.
"The Chinese government and the Chinese Embassy here, we are always doing our best to facilitate the people-to-people exchanges between two sides but I also admit that maybe there are a few cases in Ghana and China where some Chinese people are not treated well in this country and some very few Ghanaian people are not treated well in China but they are very few cases, single cases not representing the whole picture of China-Ghana relations.
"With regards to these single cases, we always hold a very objective and friendly attitude with our Ghanaian counterparts to resolve those issues and make those issues not to affect negatively our bilateral relations such as the case of the galamsey (illegal mining) issue, a very important and sensitive issue in this country.
He pledged that the Chinese Embassy was committed to assisting Ghana to combat the menace of illegal mining and always advice Chinese citizens in Ghana to be law abiding.
Counselor Zhouteng also explained that last year the Chinese Embassy issued 15,000 visas to Ghanaians adding that there is a huge Chinese community of about 30,000 persons in Ghana.
China Ghana Graduates Association (CGGA)
The President CGGA, Mr Charles Mawuenyega urged Ghanaian students to return to the country after their studies in China and volunteer their services as part of efforts to develop the nation.
He added that the contribution of China to the human resource development of Ghana cannot be over-emphasized.