On April 29, a handover ceremony was held in Suva, the capital of Fiji and the friendly city of Guangzhou, marking the donation of 800 chairs from Guangzhou to Marist Brothers High School, a renowned local institution. The event drew over 200 attendees, including Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian, the school's principal Mr. Asish Dayal, teachers, students, and media representatives.
In his speech, Ambassador Zhou Jian noted that the donation would help Fijian students pursue their dreams and add a warm new chapter to China-Fiji educational cooperation. He expressed hope that the students would become witnesses to the China-Fiji friendship, torchbearers of bilateral ties, and promoters of practical cooperation and cultural exchange—contributing to a new "golden 50 years" of partnership between the two nations.
Principal Dayal thanked Guangdong Province and Guangzhou for their long-standing generous support, stating that the donation once again reflected the deep friendship between Fiji and Guangdong. He looked forward to enhanced collaboration with China in areas such as infrastructure, cultural exchange, and Chinese language education, so that more Fijian students could benefit.
Founded in 1946, Marist Brothers High School is one of Fiji's most prestigious schools. Fiji's former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is among its notable alumni.
Guangzhou and Suva established a friendly exchange relationship in 2015, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of that partnership. In response to a request from Marist Brothers High School—and with guidance from the Chinese Embassy in Fiji and the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangdong—Guangzhou organized and completed the donation project.
Author | Chen Longyan
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
Photo | Chinese Embassy in Fiji, Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
