Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques, right, with Fang Jun, left, and Fan Di'an in the CCSEP event. [Photo/China Daily USA]

Thirteen Chinese scholars will start their research at various universities in Canada this year, as part of the 2014-2015 China-Canada Scholars Exchange Program (CCSEP).

As visiting scholars, the recipients will spend four to 12 months at prestigious Canadian universities to conduct their respective research programs.

According to the Canadian Embassy in China, the Chinese scholars, from universities and research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, will carry out field research ranging from cultural comparison to food risk management.

25 scholars from Canada under the program will come to China and start their research in Chinese universities this year.

In an event on Dec 9, Guy Saint-Jacques, the Canadian ambassador to China, met the Chinese recipients and encouraged them to enjoy the critical thinking, innovation and spirit of entrepreneurship that distinguishes Canada's education system.

The Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy of Canada and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) jointly organized the event last month to introduce the new recipients to the CCSEP alumni.

Fifty-five participants from the post-secondary institutions and government agencies were present at the event, including 11 recipients under the 2014-2015 CCSEP (two had already arrived in Canada).

Representatives from the Embassy, Ministry of Education, CSC and other CCSEP alumni joined the event and exchanged information and share ideas on common issues.

Fan Di'an, former curator of the National Gallery of China, and the newly appointed president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, shared his research experience at Victoria University as a CCSEP scholar and how this award benefited him greatly in his career development.

It was through the CCSEP, Fan said, that he obtained the first-hand information on Western art history and visited as many Canadian museums as possible while he studied in Canada in 1992-1993.

As the curator, Fan initiated and took the lead on organizing quite a few art exhibitions between China and foreign countries in the past years.

Fan expressed that he would be happy to contribute his expertise and experience in the Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges between Canada and China in 2015-2016. He wished to promote the art exchange and cooperation between CAFA and Canadian institutions in the areas of design, animation and art education areas.

Established in 1973, the Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program was the result of an undertaking by then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Since its inception, some 1,200 CCSEP recipients from both countries have traveled to each other's countries, to bring new perspectives and to acquire enhanced mutual knowledge and appreciation.

It has become a key official exchange program between the two countries designed to enhance knowledge and understanding. Eligible Chinese CCSEP applicants include academics at post-secondary institutions, government officials as well as professionals from cultural and media organizations.

"We believe that the knowledge you will gain and the new contacts you will make during your study in Canada will offer you a greater understanding of Canada, our people, our culture and our values," said Saint-Jacques to the Chinese recipients during the event last month.

"I hope all the Chinese recipients will use this exchange opportunity to strengthen the ties which already exist between our respective institutions of higher-learning," said the ambassador.

"Quite a few outstanding recipients have made great contributions to the bilateral relationship, including former Chinese ambassadors to Canada, and leading scholars, including Professor Fan," introduced by the Canadian ambassador.

"In recent years, our ties with China have grown exponentially and in every respect, from trade and investment, to the number of students studying in each other's countries, to the frequency of high-level visits, to two-way tourism, and the number of people-to-people exchanges."

"As you know, Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently paid an official visit to China just prior to the APEC Leaders Meeting. During the visit he held successful meetings with China's leaders that, I believe, have strengthened the foundation for future collaborations that will bolster two-way ties," he said.

The two countries announced that 2015 and 2016 would be Years of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges between Canada and China.

In addition to the speech by the ambassador, Fang Jun, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, pointed out that CCSEP has played an important role in the bilateral people-to-people ties between Canada and China in spite of its small size.

He mentioned that the two countries have reached the goal made in 2012 when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, set a goal of 100,000 students studying in each other's countries by 2017.

wangru@chinadaily.com.cn