Lanka-China cooperation strenghtened

More higher educational avenues in China will be opened to Lankan students following fruitful discussions held between Sri Lankan Ambassador in Japan K. Amunugama with Mayor of Tianjin,China Huang Xingguo.

Ambassador Amunugama highlighted the recent developments in strengthening cooperation with Tianjin and appreciated the support extended by the officers and institutions of Tianjin. He also elaborated on the relations Sri Lanka maintains with the Tianjin sea port and the Tianjin Medical University.

He also stated that there are over 400 Sri Lankan medical students studying in the Tianjin Medical University. Ambassador invited Huang Xingguo to visit Sri Lanka.

The Mayor of Tianjin said “We are more than happy to facilitate educational, cultural and trade promotion activities of Sri Lanka”. He also invited the Ambassador to attend the opening ceremony of the Trade and Investment Fair to be held on April 17 and 18 in Tianjin.

“We are providing free space to be utilized by the exhibition of EXPO 2010 to re-exhibit materials used for the exhibition. This could be utilized as an attractive tourism promotion venue after the exhibition”.

The Ambassador also paid a visit to the Tianjin Medical University to meet the Sri Lankan medical students and held discussions with the President and the management of the University.

While appreciating the President and his management team for looking after the Sri Lankan students, Ambassador Amunugama brought to the notice of the President the difficulties encountered by the Sri Lankan students due to the recent increase of tuition fee.

In response to the Ambassador’s request, President Huang agreed to increase the number of scholarships for Sri Lankan students to make the degree program more affordable. The President also agreed to accommodate the request made by the students to increase clinical practice time.

The president agreed to the proposal made by the Ambassador to develop an exchange program between the International Cancer Centre of the Tianjin Medical University and the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry on “Training of Medical Officers of the Cancer Hospital in Sri Lanka”.

Under this scheme, 50 medical officers will be given exposure in cancer treatment technologies at the cancer treatment centres during the next five years. Tianjin Medical University will host all local facilities for the training.