Tunisian high school students receive Chinese ambassador scholarships

Tunis (People's Daily)—Thirty-three Tunisian high school students were awarded Chinese Ambassador Scholarships on Saturday in recognition of their dedication to cross-cultural exchange between Tunisia and China.

Set against the backdrop of flourishing bilateral ties, the scholarship initiative aims to encourage more Tunisian youth to learn Chinese and pursue higher education in China. Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wan Li noted that the program helps students gain a genuine, multi-dimensional understanding of China while reinforcing long-standing friendship between the two nations.

Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wan Li delivers an address during the award ceremony on Saturday. (Photo by Leila Ben Atitallah/People's Daily)

Riadh Dridi, dean of the International Diplomatic Academy of Tunis, noted that the academy's campus—built with Chinese assistance—stands as a tangible symbol of bilateral cooperation across education, culture, and diplomacy.

Representing Tunisia's Ministry of Education, Zakaria Idrissi congratulated the recipients and their families, underscoring the role of the Chinese language as a bridge for mutual understanding and ongoing collaboration.

Ahlam Ben Soussia, general coordinator for Chinese language programs at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the competition's rising academic standards. The testing benchmark has steadily advanced each year, progressing from HSK 1 in 2024 to HSK 2 in 2025, and reaching HSK 3 this year.

Ben Soussia explained that the initiative is designed not only to boost enrollment, but also to elevate students' language proficiency and help them earn internationally recognized credentials. She added that the ministry plans to expand Chinese language offerings to more schools nationwide, encouraging broader participation among both teachers and students.

Among the top honorees was Shahd Ben Haj Yahia, a final-year secondary school student who took up Chinese in 2021. Yahia shared that her fascination with Chinese culture inspired her to master the language and work toward her goal of studying in China.

Scholarship recipients pose for a commemorative group photo with distinguished guests. (Photo by Leila Ben Atitallah/People's Daily)

"Learning Chinese has been one of the best decisions of my life," said Yahia, who earned first prize in the HSK 3 category, encouraging fellow Tunisian youth to embrace the language.

The ceremony also honored Maryem Hamzaoui, a trainee diplomat at the International Diplomatic Academy of Tunis.

Hamzaoui noted that growing interest in the Chinese language and culture among Tunisian youth—especially aspiring diplomats—reflects increasing openness to global engagement. Given China's expanding international presence, she emphasized that proficiency in its language and an appreciation of its culture have become indispensable assets for future diplomats.

The event concluded with student musical and cultural performances, along with a video presentation featuring a previous first-prize winner who shared how the scholarship paved the way for her university studies in China.