[NYTr] Chinese Official Praises Cuban Spanish Language Program Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:00:37 -0600 (CST) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles Chinese Official Praises Cuban Spanish Language Program Havana, Nov 15 (acn) The Secretary of the National Scholarship Board of China, Zhang Xinyu, thanked Cuban President Fidel Castro for its cooperation with its intensive Spanish language program for Chinese students. The official spoke at the inauguration Wednesday evening of the third course for Chinese students in Tarara, a community in the municipality of Habana del Este. Ms. Zhang Xinyu highlighted the academic cooperation between the two countries that further strengthens bilateral relations. She recalled that Cuba was the first Latin American nation to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The official carried a message from the Chinese minister of education that spoke about the expansion of ties in the field of education and praised the work of Cuban educators. The minister underlined the desire of China, expressed at the recent 17th Communist Party Congress, to overcome all obstacles, to eliminate inequalities and continue advancing on the socialist path. More than 1,000 Chinese students, including the 648 taking part in the third course, and 20 who will improve their language skills in preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games, were present at the beautiful large green outdoor plaza in Tarara. The ceremony was also presided over by Mercedes Lopez Acea, a member of the Communist Party Central Committee Secretariat; Otto Rivero Torres, a vice president of the Council of Ministers; and Juan Vela Valdes, minister of Higher Education. Also on hand for the inauguration were Brigadier General Moises Sio Wong, president of the Cuba-China Friendship Association, and the president of the University of Havana, Ruben Zardoya Lauredo, who explained that, with the beginning of the third course, the Spanish Language Faculty for non-Spanish speaking students was officially opened. * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================