Alumni organization formed to promote South Sudan-China ties

An alumni organization was established to promote excellent ties between South Sudan and China.

Simon Juach Deng, Director of the Department of China Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated during the event on Sunday in Juba that the South Sudan China Alumni Association (SSCAA) represents a culmination of strong bilateral ties.

Deng stated that the Chinese government has been helpful to South Sudan in building key institutions and infrastructure needed for growth in the youngest country.

He encouraged the more than 200 members of SSCAA to use the knowledge and skills gained from their studies in different Chinese institutions to help South Sudan.

Itoo Emmanuela, who benefitted from the Chinese government scholarship in 2013 to study oil and gas storage and transportation, said the skills she gained from China University of Petroleum-Beijing had helped her teach colleagues she works with in the oil fields.

“We do train our employees who are operating in the oil fields. We do equip them with environmental knowledge and management,” said Emmanuela, who works with South Sudan petroleum pipelines.

She expressed her excitement about the SSCAA, saying that it would bring together different South Sudanese who studied in China to exchange ideas and expertise in order to promote their country’s growth.