Cultural exchange deepens China-Fiji friendship

The Ark Peace delegation with USP and Confucius Institute staff members at the Australia-Pacific Performance Space in Laucala Bay, Suva. Picture: USP Communications

By WANSOLWARA STAFF

STAFF and students of The University of the South Pacific in Suva were treated to a night of Chinese cultural performances last Friday by the visiting medical team from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy hospital ship, Ark Peace.

This is the ship’s second visit to Fiji after four years and the third stop on its Mission Harmony-2018 goodwill and humanitarian visit around the Pacific.

Their visit to the University was facilitated by the Confucius Institute (CI-USP) under the Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE).

FALE Dean Dr Akanisi Kedrayate said the event was a celebration of goodwill, culture and the China-Fiji-Pacific friendship.

As a regional institution, she said, USP had been a centre for cultural diversity and exchanges, and was honoured and delighted to host the visiting medical team.

“This (is a) wonderful opportunity of goodwill and generosity of the Chinese Government to have the ship come to our shores to offer free medical services,” Dr Kedrayate said.

Confucius Institute (CI-USP) director Dr Hui Yang said the event fostered cultural interaction and an appreciation of Chinese performing arts.

She said the performances by the Ark Peace officers and USP’s Pasifika Voices had deepened mutual understanding and enhanced friendships.

“The team from the Ark Peace are not only doctors but artists and they were very keen to visit USP for this cultural exchange event,” she told Wansolwara Online.

Dr Yang said interest in Chinese culture had increased and this was evident in the number of people enrolled in Chinese language courses offered by the institute.

“We have 89 social students and by social students, we mean members of the public who want to learn Chinese but are not USP registered students,” she said.

“We also have 40 students who are taking credit courses at the institute so there is an interest in learning Chinese language and culture.

“There are a number of Chinese investors in Fiji and this has opened the door of opportunities for local Fijians to take up roles as translators and interpreters.”

During a recent workshop in Nadi on Sustainable Agriculture and SDGs for Pacific Small Island Developing States, Ambassador of China to Fiji Qian Bo said China’s development co-operation with Fiji targeted the well-being of Fijians.

Ark Peace will be in Fiji for eight days to conduct free medical service. The ship has visited PNG, Vanuatu and Fiji before it journeys on to Tonga and later the Caribbean.

The Chinese cultural performances were performed by the visiting delegation from China’s naval hospital ship, Ark Peace. Picture: USP Communications

Dean for the USP’s Faculty of Arts, Law and Education, Dr Akanisi Kedrayate, delivers her welcoming address at the Australia-Pacific Performance Space. Picture: USP Communications

The event was open to the public and showcased China-Fiji cultural performances. Picture: USP Communications