China to build language and culture centre in Eritrea
A Chinese calligraphy lesson (Flickr / Axel Rouvin)
The Chinese and Eritrean governments have celebrated the ground breaking for construction of a new School of Chinese Language and Culture in Eritrea.
The centre run by the Confucius Institute will cost an estimated 4 million US dollars to complete, according to a statement by Eritrea’s ministry of information today.
Eritrea’s Minister of Education Semere Russom said that the construction of the new building attests to close cooperation between China and Eritrea in the domain of education.
Officials attending the event included Dr. Wang Xiaohua, Director of the Confucius Institute, China’s Ambassador to Eritrea Yong Zigang, Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel, Prof. Tadesse Mehari, Executive Director of National Commission for Higher Education, among others.
Investments by China in media, radio and education have been increasing in East Africa in recent years.
The country is also slated to build a military base in neighboring Djibouti and recently announced the opening of a Chinese-operated railway line between Djibouti and Ethiopia.
Ground breaking event in Asmara (Credit: Eritrea Ministry of Information)
