Ambassador Basilio receives a plaque of appreciation for the Embassy from Xavier School President Fr. Dy and Student Council President Lorenzo Carlo Arceo.

Ambassador Erlinda F. Basilio led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing in welcoming to the Embassy on 06 December 2013 Xavier School President Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ and this year’s participants to the Xavier China Experience (XCE) Beijing, a study program of Xavier School in Manila. The study tour is aimed at allowing Xavier students to experience an in-depth exposure to public and private institutions including schools and think tanks, as well as various sectors of Chinese society.

 

Sixty-one (61) Xavier students accompanied by seven (7) teachers spent six (6) weeks in Beijing, with a tour of Shanghai, in coordination with the XCE Beijing’s partner institution, the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College.  

 

During their visit to the Embassy, Deputy Chief of Mission Antonio A. Morales gave them a briefing on Philippine-China relations and the work of the Team Philippines in China.  Embassy officers shared with the students their views and insights on many issues ranging from bilateral cooperation and effective communication to a career in diplomacy during the animated open forum and interaction.

 

Deputy Chief of Mission Morales during his briefing

A highlight of the visit was the students’ presentation of their final project during their 42-day stay in Beijing – the “Global Pinoy’s Guide to Beijing,” a handbook containing useful information for Filipinos visiting or residing in Beijing.

 

In her remarks to the students, Ambassador Basilio said that she has always advocated people-to-people contacts because she believes that relationships between peoples are the

anchor of relationships between nations. The Ambassador urged the students to share their experiences in China with others so that more people will know more and better appreciate different countries and their cultures.

 

On 09 December 2013, it was the students’ turn to welcome Ambassador Basilio and Deputy Chief of Mission Morales to the closing ceremony of XCE Beijing 2013 at the Fuchengmen campus of the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College (BCLCC). Also on hand to welcome Ambassador Basilio and Deputy Chief of Mission Morales were BCLCC officials led by Mr. Feng Zhou , President; Mr. Zhengguo Cao, Assistant to the President; and Ms. Xuejing Li, Training Supervisor, as well as Mrs. Yolly Y. Reyes, Chairperson of the Xavier School Chinese Department. Also in attendance were Dr. Ellen Palanca, Director of the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), together with Ms. Lu Xiao Fang, Chinese Director and Ms. Diana Joanne Dee, academics and events coordinator, respectively, of the Confucius Institute in ADMU.

 

In their respective speeches, Xavier School President Fr. Dy and student representative Kevin Adrian Wong thanked the BCLCC, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Philippine Embassy for enriching the Beijing experience of the students with their active support and cooperation.

The XCE Beijing 2013 participants with Xavier School President Fr. Dy and their teachers pose for a group photo with Ambassador Basilio, Deputy Chief of Mission Morales and Embassy officials.