Honorable Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, Honorable Minister of Education, Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, Dear Chairman of the Silver Jubilee of Independence Scholarship Committee, Mr. Maurice Merchant, Dear representative of the Selection Committee, Mrs. Anne Jonas, the Antigua and Barbuda scholarship students and the parents, members of the media,

Good morning. The time eventually came for us to be here to celebrate the official announcement of the 15 young Antiguan and Barbudan scholarship recipients. Firstly, allow me to express the sincere congratulations to the 15 newly-enrolled Antigua and Barbuda Scholarship students on behalf of Ambassador Chen Ligang who is currently off island for business.

The Chinese Government Scholarship has been organized since 2007 for Antiguans and Barbudans under the age of 26 to be sponsored to pursue their degree studies in China. With the enrollment of these 15 students, we have granted a total of 35 full Chinese Government scholarships to qualified Antiguans and Barbudans. 

The number itself is significant. This is the first year that the scholarship students increased from 10 to 15. This is another demonstration that the government of the People's Republic of China is committed to maintaining and strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries, especially the cultural exchange between youth in order to increase mutual understanding between the two people.

As one much involved in the scholarship program, I want to share with you the many unforgettable experiences that I had during the discharge of my function. It was unforgettable that Honorable Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer set the Chinese Scholarship Program as one of the priorities of the Antigua and Barbuda Government. In effect, he is always behind the Program. It was unforgettable that how tirelessly The silver Jubilee of Independence Scholarship Committee worked, this year namely Mr. Maurice Merchant, Mrs. Anne Jonas, Mr. Stosh Brown and Mrs. Sandra Joseph, in order to select the qualified young Antiguan and Barbudan students whom they termed accurately as the Ambassadors of Antigua and Barbuda to the People's Republic of China. I could neither forget the heartfelt smiles of Mr. Maurice Merchant when he told me with so much pride that the Antiguan students in China showed up for a Chinese language competition and proved themselves. I learnt from all these that a country is great because of its people.

I cannot agree with Dr. the Honorable Quinn-Leandro more when she stated her belief in team spiritedness as the critical factor in the advancement of education. "Each endeavoring, all achieving". Now it' your turn, the selected scholarship students, to make the most of your opportunities to advance yourselves when you pursue degree studies in some of the best universities in China. We know that being overseas students itself might be both exciting and challenging. But I believe inward strength and hard work which are the key to success. I have full confidence in you. If you have any problems, do not hesitate to ask for help. Both the Chinese government and the Chinese People are friendly and will be pleased to offer whatever help they could.

I wish all the best to you.

Thank you.