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July 25, 2009
Kneel, like I used to
By Goh Chin Lian, Senior Political Correspondent
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) said at the PSC scholarship awards ceremony that Singapore must send more scholars to China, who can then better understand the Chinese world. --ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
MISS Tan Bao Jia has lived with a family in Nanjing and sat for a language examination in Sichuan. She tasted these intimate slices of life in China as a student in Dunman High's bicultural programme.
For the next four years, Miss Tan, 19, will experience vastly more of China as an economics undergraduate at Beijing University.
On Saturday, the young Singaporean was one of 10 winners of the Public Service Commission's (PSC) new China scholarship.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the PSC scholarship awards ceremony that Singapore must send more scholars to China, who can then better understand the Chinese world.
He also announced a new overseas development programme to nurture China-savvy public servants.
This allows fresh school- leavers and mid-career professionals to work three to nine months in Singapore government offices in China or companies there. They will return to do China-related work in the public service.
The focus on China is a recognition of its influence in the world and its relevance to Singapore, said Mr Lee.
Bilateral ties are strong. Many Singapore companies operate all over the country.
Mr Lee said: 'We need people who can understand the Chinese...be comfortable in their milieu, be able to read how they think, how they act.'
These public servants should know some people in China personally and tap these ties for 'mutual benefit', he added.
Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.
July 25, 2009
Kneel, like I used to
By Goh Chin Lian, Senior Political Correspondent
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) said at the PSC scholarship awards ceremony that Singapore must send more scholars to China, who can then better understand the Chinese world. --ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
MISS Tan Bao Jia has lived with a family in Nanjing and sat for a language examination in Sichuan. She tasted these intimate slices of life in China as a student in Dunman High's bicultural programme.
For the next four years, Miss Tan, 19, will experience vastly more of China as an economics undergraduate at Beijing University.
On Saturday, the young Singaporean was one of 10 winners of the Public Service Commission's (PSC) new China scholarship.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the PSC scholarship awards ceremony that Singapore must send more scholars to China, who can then better understand the Chinese world.
He also announced a new overseas development programme to nurture China-savvy public servants.
This allows fresh school- leavers and mid-career professionals to work three to nine months in Singapore government offices in China or companies there. They will return to do China-related work in the public service.
The focus on China is a recognition of its influence in the world and its relevance to Singapore, said Mr Lee.
Bilateral ties are strong. Many Singapore companies operate all over the country.
Mr Lee said: 'We need people who can understand the Chinese...be comfortable in their milieu, be able to read how they think, how they act.'
These public servants should know some people in China personally and tap these ties for 'mutual benefit', he added.
Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.
