The University of Guyana (UG), in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, last month launched a China Book Corner at the university’s library and hosted a Dragon Boat Festival cultural event at its Turkeyen campus.
According to a University of Guyana statement, the June 15 activities formed part of ongoing collaboration between the university and the Chinese embassy and were attended by university officials, embassy representatives, staff and students.
The day’s activities began with the opening of the China Book Corner at the University of Guyana Library, where the embassy donated a collection of books on China.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin said the initiative would promote greater understanding through education and cultural exchange.
She said the addition to the university’s library would provide students with greater opportunities to learn about China and noted that the relationship between Guyana and China has expanded through education, cultural exchanges and other forms of cooperation.
Mohamed Martin also thanked the Chinese government for its continued support to the university, including previous contributions to campus development.
Chinese Ambassador Yang Yang said the China Book Corner represented another step in strengthening cooperation between the embassy and the university.
According to the statement, the collection includes books on governance, poverty reduction, modernisation, democracy, the rule of law, environmental protection and China’s approach to global development.
Following the launch, staff, students and invited guests attended a Chinese Dragon Boat Festival Food and Culture event at the university’s Education Lecture Theatre. The event was organised by the embassy and the university through the Confucius Institute.
The university said the programme featured Chinese cultural performances, presentations on the history and traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival and a sampling of Chinese cuisine.
Confucius Institute Director Al Creighton explained the significance of the festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, and its association with the Chinese poet Qu Yuan.
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