JUBA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese oil firm China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on Friday donated the second batch of computer equipment to the University of Juba in South Sudan.
CNPC donated an additional 25 computers and 15 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment to the School of Computer Science and Information Technology at the South Sudan's leading university.
"CNPC always pays high attention to the education development of South Sudan, and will make continued endeavors to improve the schooling facilities through cooperation with the University of Juba," said Lu Jiangbo, president of CNPC, during the donation ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
In March, the Chinese firm also donated computers and UPS to the School of Engineering at the University of Juba.
CNPC is willing to join hands with South Sudanese and work together with South Sudan's Ministry of Petroleum to ensure smooth transportation of crude oil through Port Sudan following disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, said Lu.
Robert Mayom Kuoirot, vice chancellor of the University of Juba, commended CNPC and other Chinese firms for supporting South Sudan in critical economic and development sectors.
"We have seen quite a number of things you have done for this nation. We get a beautiful building which is the central bank. We also have a renovated Juba Teaching Hospital and quite a number of projects which you have done," Mayom said.
Mayom also noted the need for cooperation with CNPC to provide practical training for university students in the fields of geology and minerals, and environmental science.
Ruben Marial Benjamin, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan, said that the relationship between South Sudan and China has remained resilient since South Sudan's independence in 2011.
Marial noted that close collaboration between the foreign ministries of the two countries has yielded excellent results, adding that more than 500 South Sudanese nationals have so far attended capacity-building training and seminars in China.
"Now about 25 South Sudanese nationals are prepared to go to China for training and seminars, by doing that we are trying on our part as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to connect people of South Sudan with the Chinese people," Marial said.
Since 2011, CNPC has been actively involved in social welfare undertakings in various fields such as healthcare assistance, natural disaster alleviation and infrastructure development in South Sudan.
CNPC also provided support to construct the main computer lab of the University of Juba, the third protection of civilian camp in Juba, and Paloch Friendship Hospital in Upper Nile State. ■
