Scholarship program for young Asians seeks to foster friendship, understanding

A scholarship program that aims to promote understanding and communication among young people from Asian countries and areas has been launched in Beijing.

Set up by Ronald Kee-Young Chao, vice-chairman and director of Hong Kong’s Novel Enterprises Ltd, the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program will provide scholarships to 85 students from six core universities and 15 students from other universities each year beginning in 2015.

The six core universities are: China’s Peking University, Zhejiang University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; and Japan’s Waseda University, Hitotsubashi University and Kyoto University.

Each of the 100 students who are selected will receive $25,000 a year to support their studies, and all of them will gather to spend a four-week summer camp every summer vacation, during which time they will spend all their time together, including having academic activities and playing games, to enhance understanding and friendship.

The program envisions that within five years there will be an alumni group of 500 young, wise and globally-aware future leaders contributing to the Asian community, as they will be possibly holding significant positions in fields like business, education, arts, science, international relations, government and non-government organizations and more.

“I’m confident that we will succeed in nurturing a minimum of 100 elite Asian youths every year,” Chao said.

To start the program, Chao himself donated at least $100 million, and he hopes to receive more support from other entrepreneurs and alumni, so that the program can be extended to more universities in Asian areas, such as South Korea and Singapore.

“My goal is to support 150 students each year in the future and ensure that they benefit from the program,” he said.

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of China’s 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, praised the program as “an investment for the future”.

“The key to the future of Asia and the rest of the world hinges on whether or not Asian nations, especially China and Japan, can reach mutual understanding and cooperation.

“The most important element is that the younger generations strive to understand each other, respect each other and cooperate with each other. The Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program exemplifies Mr Chao’s foresight and vision,” Tung said at the kick-off ceremony of the program on Tuesday.