The Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Beijing played host to a group of 40 Chinese students from the Chongqing City of the People’s Republic of China.
The visit on on Friday July 12, which was in line with the Embassy’s engagements to promote people to people exchanges between Ghana and China was organised by the Embassy and the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Welcoming the students to the Embassy, the Deputy Ambassador Dr Charles Dwamena indicated that diplomatic relations between Ghana and China date back to the era of Chairman Mao ZeDong and Dr Kwame Nkrumah and that both countries enjoy a high degree of cordial friendship and brotherliness.
He indicated that over 6,000 Ghanaian students are currently studying in China, a testament of the good relationship between the two countries and encouraged the Chinese students to visit Ghana and other parts of the world to broaden their horizons so that they can grow up to be well informed adults in the future.
The Economic Counsellor, Mrs Beryl Lomotey, introduced Ghanaian culture, tourism and food to the students, highlighting the health benefits of Ghana Cocoa drinks.
The Chinese students introduced Chongqing city to the diplomats present and treated the gathering to traditional Chongqing dance ensembles. Chongqing is a major city, and municipality, in southwest China and it is one of China’s four municipalities under the direct administration of central government (the other three are Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin), and has a population of about 30 million people.
The introduction of the city was followed by a question and answer session where a number of questions were asked, including one on the meaning of the colours of the National Flag. Minister- Counsellor Mr Sylvester Achereko, in answering the question indicated that the colour red represents the blood of those who died in the country’s struggle for independence: gold stands for the mineral wealth, while green symbolizes the rich forest and the black star is a symbol of African freedom.
The Défense Attaché, Brigadier General Boampong, used the occasion to advice the students to be obedient to their teachers and encouraged them to focus on their studies.
Also present at the event were Mr Yu, a Director of the Beijing Foreign Language University, Mr Philemon Omantam- 1st Secretary Accounts, Mr Ebenezer Adjei -Minister Counselor at the Consular section and Mr Alex Mensah – Trade Attaché.
All students and teachers were treated to Ghana Cocoa drinks and biscuits
