Minister of the South Africa 's Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services Dr. Siyabonga Cwele takes a selfie with students who are leaving for China for a two-week training on Nov 3rd, 2016 in Johannesburg. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jiexian)

Pretoria, November 4 (People's Daily Online) - Training opportunity has been awarded to ten South African students who will receive international training through Huawei’s program in Beijing and Shenzhen, China.

Besides cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, LTE and cloud computing, students are also to learn more about Chinese culture and gain cross-cultural work experience in a global business environment. What makes this program unique is that it also offers first-hand learning opportunities through interaction with Huawei staff and visits to its laboratories, where program participants can engage in hands-on practice and witness live demonstrations of the latest information and communications technology (ICT).

The beneficiaries are top students from various universities and universities of technology across South Africa, and are a vibrant mix of both male and female outstanding students. Tsholofelo Mashwabi from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University said: "It is not enough to be in the confines of a class room and lab when you aim to be a future leader in this ever evolving ICT space. I am truly excited about visiting China to explore beyond boarders what the offerings of ICT are, and getting a first world experience of ICT. "

Tsholofelo Mashwabi from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jiexian)

Huawei celebrated the send-off of its first Seeds for the Future students from SA on Thursday night, in partnership with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS).

Huawei and DTPS signed a Cooperation Contract in July on capacity building, the joint Innovation and Experience Centre, and skills training. This training is a part of its roll out.

Minister of the DTPS Dr. Siyabonga Cwele said: "We are committed as the government to see South Africa be globally competitive. There is no better place to invest than in our youth who are the future of this country. The seeds should remember that they carry the hopes and dreams of this nation."

Minister of the South Africa's Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services Dr. Siyabonga Cwele addresses the send-off ceremony for South African students on Nov 3rd, 2016 in Johannesburg. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jiexian)

The Chinese Economic and Commercial Counsellor Rong Yansong addresses the send-off ceremony for South African students on Nov 3rd, 2016 in Johannesburg. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jiexian)

The Chinese Economic and Commercial Counsellor Rong Yansong said: "The cooperation between China and South Africa will benefit the African continent and its people, wish the students would be experience ambassadors on their return to SA."

Huawei's Seeds for the Future Program is a globally recognised flagship social investment program that takes students from all around the world to receive ICT training and culture exchange at Huawei's Shenzhen and Beijing branches.

Huawei South Africa CEO, Steven Wu said: "It prides us to finally see this initiative kick-off in South Africa as well. We are glad that through our focus in investing in local institutions of higher learning, and our perseverance in strategic partnership with the DTPS, the breakthrough is in the horizon, and we wish our young talent returns with the required optimism and skills."

Over the past seven years, the program has been implemented in 67 countries and regions across five continents, benefiting over 15,000 students from 150 universities. More than 1,700 university students from around the world have taken a study trip to the Huawei headquarters, including more than 800 visitors in 2015.