Celebrating 100th anniversary of CPC | Botswana official remembers wonderful learning experience in China

Kebinakgabo Tapiwa Barona is an official of Botswana's Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services.

In September 2019, she went to Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (YUFE) majoring in Project Management with the support of the Chinese government.

With two years of study in China, she has gained plenty of professional knowledge and impressive experience.

On July 8, 2021, Barona, on behalf of the outstanding students of 2019, addressed the graduation ceremony of the School of Overseas Education of the YUFE, expressing her affection for China and the university.

"Studying in China was a wonderful moment in my life," said Barona, adding that they also witnessed China fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, and although they will miss the coming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, they wish every thing go smoothly.

Barona expressed her gratitude for the high-quality education and a friendly environment in China and praised traditional Chinese culture.

She said that with two years of study she has gained a lot of academic knowledge, refined her personality and broadened her international vision. "The most important thing is that I understand more about the Chinese spirit," she added.

"It's my great honor to be a member of the YUFE, which makes me a promotional 'ambassador' of China. It is a milestone of my life. China is just like another hometown for me," Barona said.

"No matter where we go we will always keep a tight connection with China," she said.

In her school period, Barona wrote an article, China's urban planning made life easier during epidemic, to express her idea about China's measures against COVID-19, which fully affirmed the scientific nature of China's urban planning and infrastructural construction and praised the ability of the Chinese government in crisis response.

This article was published in the Opinion column of chinadaily.com.cn on April 16, 2020.