ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 19 -- The Chinese government through its Embassy in Ethiopia on Thursday offered scholarship for about 50 students of Addis Ababa University (A.A.U.).

The scholarship provides financial assistance of five years to needy students to enable them to pursue their studies at the University. There will be a total of 250 students in five years who will get scholarship.

At the signing ceremony of the scholarship on the premises of A. A.U, Admasu Tsegaye, A.A.U. President, recalled that Addis Ababa University and the Chinese universities had earlier started academic collaboration in different field of studies.

The president said the collaboration with China and the Chinese universities has positive impact as it contributes to the development endeavor of Ethiopia.

"We are feeling the impact of our collaboration with the Chinese universities and with the Chinese government," he said. "Today, we are very happy that the Ambassador offered scholarship for needy Addis Ababa University students. So, this scholarship will assist 50 students for five years. It will provide financial support for the needy and for very good students."

The president said the collaboration is growing and benefiting the two sides. He also expressed belief that the collaboration between A.A.U. and the Chinese universities would further be strengthened in the future.

"We also started offering courses in Amharic language in Beijing foreign language university. So, the collaboration is a two-way; and so, we are benefiting; both the peoples of Ethiopia and China are benefiting from this type of relationship," said Tsegaye.

The relationship between the peoples of Ethiopia and China is strong these days, he said.

There are many Chinese companies and industrial zone in Ethiopia, he said, revealing that the university would organize workshop in the near future to facilitate and enable industry- university link.

Xie Xiaoyan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, stated that investing in university students is investing in the future leaders of a country.

Stating that the overall relations between Ethiopia and China are growing, Xie expressed happiness to contribute the education sector in Ethiopia.

"So, I am so happy that I can contribute in a limited way to education causes in this country, especially at the Addis Ababa University. We provide financial support for students of excellence, and students in need to further their studies at the university," said the ambassador.

"I will continue to do that and this is just one of the steps I have taken. But the bigger picture is the overall relationship between our two countries, especially in the last few years. We have seen growing exchanges in many fields," he said.

Xie also stated that the students would work for common causes and development of the country.

He also highlighted the role of language learning in economic benefit and also in furthering cultural exchanges and better understandings among different peoples.

Some of the students who have been awarded the scholarship told Xinhua that they are very happy about the scholarship.

One of the awardees, Getu Tegegn, a Chinese language student at the Addis Ababa University, said all of them feel good and they are happy about the scholarship. It will further strengthen the relations between the two countries, he said.

Mebrahtu Solomon, another student, who also visited China last year, said the scholarship opportunities from China motivate the students to further work hard.

The Chinese government and the Chinese Embassy give us many scholarship opportunities; and the relationship between Ethiopia and China is increasing from time to time, he said.