Chinese university to offer courses in seven Pacific languages
Quoting Radio New Zealand – 19 September 2019
“A Chinese university is to teach a number of Pacific Island languages, including Vagahau Niue.
“The Australian National University's Development Policy blog revealed the Pacific Island Country Language-Teaching Programme will be offered at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.
“The programme is linked to efforts to facilitate the rollout of the Chinese Government's Belt and Road Initiative in Pacific Island Countries with whom China has diplomatic relations.
“Approved by China's Ministry of Education in 2017, Beijing Foreign Studies University started to advertise new four-year bachelor's courses in seven Pacific languages.
“These also include Vanuatu's Bislama, Cook Islands Māori, Fijian, Niuean, Samoan, Papua New Guinea's Tok Pisin and Tongan.
“These languages cover all of China's eight diplomatic partner states in the Pacific.
“The formal teaching is expected to start soon.”
Copyright @ 2019, Radio New Zealand.
