10 April 2018 - The Embassy welcomed a delegation of seventeen (17) Grade 11 students from the Xavier School, a private Catholic school for boys based in San Juan, Metro Manila, on 10 April 2018.

Group photo of XCE delegation and Embassy Officials

The XCE Program aims to familiarize the students with Chinese institutions and culture to enable them to develop a deeper understanding of their Chinese-Filipino heritage. Part of the program is to visit the Embassy, during which the students are briefed on the role of the Embassy and a career in the foreign service. The Embassy receives the XCE delegations twice a year, and has been receiving students of Xavier School for the past eight (8) years.

This year's XCE program consists of a six-week program in Beijing and Shanghai,  including language classes at the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College and visits to places of interest in Beijing and Shanghai.

In her opening remarks, Minister Elizabeth T. Te of the Embassy noted the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and China, and the various levels of interactions and people-to-people exchanges between two sides. She cited the President's participation in the Boao Forum for Asia and the scheduled bilateral meeting between Presidents Duterte and Xi Jinping. She noted further that the XCE program contributes to deepening understanding and strengthening of ties with China.

Mr. Phillbert Tan and Mr. Enrico Miguel Perez, both students, briefed the Embassy on the XCE.

Students raising their questions during the Open forum

Second Secretary Kay Kalaw-Ado gave a brief presentation on the work of the Embassy and a career in the Foreign Service. An open forum followed where students raised questions on Philippines-China relations. END