Knowledge of the Chinese language can give its speakers an advantage in matters such as trade, says China’s top diplomat in Samoa.

China’s Ambassador to Samoa, Chao Xiaoliang, said in a recent interview with the Samoa Observer that the advantages of speaking Chinese are numerous and trade is one of them.

He said the embassy is ready to offer more scholarship opportunities to Samoan students keen on studying in China.

“I would like to provide help to the young generation if they have an intention to go to China,” he said.

Asked if more scholarship opportunities should be given to Samoan students to study in Chinese institutions, he said: “Why not?”

The increase in the number of Samoan students studying in China, under a Chinese government-funded scholarship program, has led to more Samoans learning Chinese.

According to the Ambassador, it is a good thing more Samoans speak Chinese, though he emphasised that the language can be learnt anywhere in the world.

In February this year two Samoans, who have high proficiency in Chinese, were recruited to teach the language at the N.U.S. Confucius Institute.

A month later the institute started offering community courses targeting members of the public who want to learn Chinese.

Currently, there are two courses available at the institute: Chinese for beginners Part A and Chinese for business communication Part A. 

Chinese for beginners Part A targets those studying the language for the first time, while Chinese for Business Communication Part A is an intermediate course for those who already have basic Chinese language skills.

Last month the community language courses had already attracted 14 registered students who completed the learning program and were awarded certificates. Twelve did the beginners course and the other two the intermediate course.

By virtue of its record as the world’s most populated nation with 1.4 billion people, the Ambassador said the Chinese language is the world’s most spoken native language.

He said coupled with China having the second largest economy in the world and currently ranked the top trading partner of more than 140 nations, speaking Chinese can give someone an advantage.