Chinese professor funds Myanmar students on university education

China's Myanmar-language professor Su Xiuyu (2nd L), who won one of the highest religious medals of commendation in honor of her excellent performances conferred by Myanmar President U Thein Sein, and Myanmar studends pose for group photos during the education stipend presentation ceremony in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 29, 2013. China's Myanmar-language professor Su Xiuyu provided stipends on Sunday for 27 outstanding Myanmar students from underprivileged families to pursue university education under the name of "Professor Su-Xiuyu Fund". (Xinhua/U Aung)

China's Myanmar-language professor Su Xiuyu provided stipends on Sunday for 27 poor and outstanding Myanmar students to pursue university education under the name of "Professor Su-Xiuyu Fund".

Su, who won one of the highest religious medals of commendation in honor of her excellent performances conferred by Myanmar President U Thein Sein, is a retired professor from China's Beijing Foreign Languages University.

The 27 students are from nine regions and states who just passed the matriculation examination and are to join universities, while 15 more from other five regions and states are expected to receive the sponsorship once they are enlisted.

The funding was arranged with the help of Myanmar-China Friendship Association in accordance with the wishes of Professor Su.

This batch of students will each soon obtain 200,000 Kyats (206 U.S. dollars) education stipend for the first academic year of their university learning and more stipend will be provided for their second academic year and even until their graduation.

The stipend presentation ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan, Chairman of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association U Sein Win Aung, dignitaries of Myanmar-Chinese community, donors of the Fund and pupils of Professor Su totalling about 100.

Ambassador Yang and Chairman U Sein Win Aung appraised Professor Su's acts of loving kindness, calling on the people to learn from Su for her great spirit of cherish for education and students.

Representatives of recipients thanked Su for the provision of the stipends, pledging to study hard and endeavors to fulfill the will and expectation of Su and make efforts to serve the country and the society after graduation.

The 85-year-old Professor Su said at the ceremony that she has devoted her life to education activities. "Despite my old age, I still has my dream. My China dream is to contribute my might in disseminating Paukphaw friendship and promoting the friendship."

She added that "My Myanmar dream is to do public charity for Myanmar society, especially that related with education and nurturing of human resources."

Professor Su won the title "Saddhamma Jotikadhaja" conferred by the President early this year for her outstanding contribution to the cause of education, religious affairs, social welfare and China-Myanmar friendship.

Su is a native of Fujian and was born and brought up in Myanmar. She graduated from Yangon University and passed high level examination of Myanmar Buddhism subject.

During her residence in Myanmar, Su was a teacher with Yangon Nanyang High School and headmistress with Fujian Girls High School.

In 1965, at the invitation of the Chinese government as a Myanmar-language expert, Su, returned to China and worked in Foreign Language Department and then Beijing Foreign Language University.

Over the years of her teachership, Su cherished and nurtured many pupils. Especially in Myanmar, students, whom she brought up, have become leaders and strongmen of the society.

Similarly, several students she nurtured in China have also become high diplomatic officials.

Working for social affairs and public welfare, Su once took up posts for a number of major social organizations at home and abroad.

For several decades, Su has devoted to the development of China- Myanmar neighborly and friendly ties and enhancement of the Paukphaw friendship of peoples of the two countries.

On March 30 this year, "Professor Su-Xiuyu Fund" was established, under the name of which Su launched charity activities for the first time in Myanmar on April 11, making donation of a large batch of rice and stationery as well as presenting Myanmar new year gifts to orphans and pupils accommodated in a monastery in the outskirts of Yangon.

Sunday's move of Su marked the second charity activities of the Fund.