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UP welcomes Chinese Embassy, signs MOA

| Written by Clariza Concordia

UP President Angelo Jimenez (center) and Atty. Edlyn Frances Verzola (rightmost), PAUW-UP president, welcome Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines Jing Quan (leftmost). Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPS-MCO.

 

Officials of the University of the Philippines System welcomed Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and other officials from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to a courtesy visit at the Executive House in UP Diliman, March 10.

 

The event aimed to explore potential collaborative opportunities for research in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and sustainable development, and to enhance the existing faculty and student exchange programs between UP and Chinese universities. An agreement between UP and the Embassy of China was also signed during the visit.

 

UP President Angelo Jimenez, in his opening remarks, highlighted the need for collaboration between the country’s national university and Chinese universities. He said, “Geography has put our peoples together. Because [of our proximity], we share our commitment to peace, prosperity, and mutual collaboration.” Jimenez stated that it is what he hopes to accomplish for the remainder of his term. 

 

Ambassador Jing Quan (center) discusses the initiatives of the embassy in maintaining bilateral relations with the Philippines. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPS-MCO.
The lead signatories of the MOA, UP President Angelo Jimenez (second from left) and Ambassador Jing Quan (third from the left), pose for a photo after the ceremonial signing. Joining them are UP Diliman Office of Scholarships and Grants Director Christine Hernandez (leftmost) and Zhi Luying (rightmost), director of the Political Section of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPS-MCO.

 

In the discussion, UP Vice President for Research and Innovation Joel Joseph Marciano said the university is keen to learn from the experiences of Chinese universities in bringing their research to society and linking up with industries and startups.

 

Quan said there are existing programs designed to promote communication and academic exchange. “China really cares about our relations and possibilities.”

 

“We believe that universities must continue to be conduits, agents, and tools of collaboration, people-to-people exchanges, and mutual understanding.” — UP President Angelo Jimenez (seated, second from right) in his opening remarks. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPS-MCO.
“We believe that universities must continue to be conduits, agents, and tools of collaboration, people-to-people exchanges, and mutual understanding.” — UP President Angelo Jimenez (seated, second from right) in his opening remarks. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPS-MCO.
Seated, from left: UPD OSG Director Christine Hernandez; UP President Angelo Jimenez; Ambassador Jing Quan; and Zhi Luying, director of the Political Section of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines. Standing, from left: University officials and faculty, VP for Legal Affairs Ruben Acebedo III; Dr. Aileen Reyes, senior scholarships officer II of UPD OSG; OVPLA Deputy General Counsel Eunice Saño; VP for Planning and Finance Joselito Florendo; VP for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe-Symaco; Professor Emeritus Michael Tan, CI-UPD adviser; CI-UPD Director Lou Tanhueco-Nepomuceno; CI-UPD Chinese Director Zhi Xiaojing; Iryn Balmores from CI-UPD, former VP for planning and finance; Dr. Percival Almoro, assistant vice president for academic affairs (research); and, OIL Deputy Director Gino Velasco. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPS-MCO.

 

Jimenez and Quan then led the signing of a memorandum of agreement, which identifies UP as the recipient of the Chinese Ambassador Partial Scholarship Grant. The grant aims to provide financial assistance to select undergraduate students enrolled in UPD’s College of Law, National College of Public Administration and Governance, School of Economics, or College of Media and Communication. 

 

According to the signed contract, 10 partial grant awards and two full grant awards for the Academic Year 2025-2026 will receive a grant of PhP450,000 and PhP160,000, respectively. Benefits include allowance for book and other materials worth PhP5,000 per semester, and a monthly stipend of PhP3,500.