312 overseas students in Xiamen receive Tan Kah-kee Scholarship

A total of 312 overseas Chinese students or students of Chinese origin who study in Xiamen attended the first award ceremony of the Tan Kah-kee Scholarship held on Oct 24 in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/news.xmnn.cn]

The first award ceremony of the Tan Kah-kee Scholarship was held on Oct 24 in Xiamen, Fujian province.

A total of 312 overseas Chinese students or students of Chinese origin who study in Xiamen were presented with the scholarship.

The Tan Kah-kee Scholarship was set up this year in honor of Tan Kah-kee, also known as Chen Jiageng, who is a patriotic Malaysian Chinese business tycoon. It is open to applicants who are overseas Chinese or people of Chinese origin residing in countries and regions along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road pursuing education in Xiamen.

Zhang Yujia, a Malaysian graduate student at the Art College of Xiamen University delivered a speech at the ceremony on behalf of all the recipients. Zhang said he was honored to come back to his ancestral hometown and learn about traditional Chinese culture. Speaking of his future plans, Zhang said he wishes to find a job and settle in Xiamen with his families.

Qiu Yuejiao, another recipient of the scholarship, had been a Chinese teacher in Thailand for six years after finishing her education in Shanghai. In the process of teaching, she realized there was still room for improvement in her Chinese proficiency. Thus, she decided to apply for the Tan Kah-kee Scholarship and come back to China to pursue further education.

Qiu said after hearing of Tan Kah-kee's great contribution to education, she was inspired to guide more children in Thailand to learn Chinese language and culture.

Recipients of the Tan Kah-kee Scholarship were presented with scholarship on Oct 24 in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/news.xmnn.cn]