The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, on Friday, 23rd August 2024, received in audience the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Gambia, Chinese Embassy in The Gambia His Excellency Liu Jin, who was accompanied by a delegation of the Chinese Province of Guangxi to pay a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister.
Two MoUs were signed during the courtesy call. One was between the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) and Guangxi Polytechnic of Construction (GXPC) regarding TVET education and capacity building. The other was between the Ministry and LiuGong Machinery South Africa Limited for the establishment of two boreholes in two TVET centres.
The signing of the MoUs aims to strengthen the existing bilateral ties between the People’s Republic of China and The Gambia and enhance bilateral cooperation in the area of higher education, especially in TVET.
The Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Ambassador, Liu Jin, and the head of the delegation for their timely visit to the Ministry. Minister Gomez described the signing of the MoUs as timely and significant and stated that when The Gambia was at a crossroads devising initiatives to improve the standards of living, especially of its youthful folk, the Government of the People’s Republic of China came through and responded swiftly with funding for various projects.
Minister Gomez acknowledged that China has always been a great partner of The Gambia in education development, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The Minister highlighted some of the ongoing transformative initiatives at the Ministry, such as the establishment of the Civil Service University for the training of civil servants and public officials and the transformation of the Gambia College School of Education into an Education University, which is geared towards improving the standard of education. Minister Gomez emphasised that the initiatives are relevant in ensuring a highly trained and skillful citizenry.
Prof Gomez explained that The Gambia is on a journey towards development and actualising its set goals, especially in the areas of education, innovation, and technology. He noted that as China is rapidly leading the world in these areas, it has created the need for the two countries to partner to work towards actualising these goals.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, the Honourable Minister thanked the People’s Republic of China for supporting the Government of The Gambia to attain its higher education transformation agenda.
Mr. Wang Weiping, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Organisation Department of the CPC Guangxi Committee, stated that the signed MoU will further strengthen the already existing relationship between the People’s Republic of China and The Gambia. He emphasised that The Gambia and China are good friends and partners in development. He also expressed optimism that the Forum will allow both parties to discuss ways of addressing challenges in critical areas of education, especially on TVET education programmes to enhance the skills of youths.
Mr Weiping stated that in the past years, the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow, signed an MoU in different sectoral, institutional, and educational development areas. This visit and collaboration will further strengthen the ties between the two countries. Thus, he does not doubt that Guangxi’s initiative would contribute immensely to the educational structure of The Gambia.
